AAP Removes Raghav Chadha as RS Deputy Leader
Party Names Ashok Mittal as Deputy Leader; Reshuffle raises questions over Chadha’s role in AAP leadership
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd April: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has removed Raghav Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and appointed Punjab MP Ashok Mittal as his successor.
Mittal, who is also the chancellor of Lovely Professional University, will now serve as the party’s deputy leader in the Upper House. Sanjay Singh continues as the party’s leader in the House.
The development is being seen as politically significant, as Chadha was considered a key figure within AAP and part of Arvind Kejriwal’s inner circle.
While the party has not officially stated reasons for the change, the move has intensified speculation about Chadha’s standing within AAP. In recent months, his absence from major party activities and limited public engagement on internal developments had drawn attention.
Despite this, Chadha has remained active in Parliament, raising issues such as airport pricing, gig workers’ rights, and urban traffic concerns.
AAP currently has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha—seven from Punjab and three from Delhi—and is the fourth-largest party in the Upper House after the BJP, Congress, and Trinamool Congress.
Reacting to his appointment, Mittal thanked the party leadership, stating that AAP provides opportunities for leaders to grow. He noted that the deputy leader position has seen transitions over time, reflecting the party’s internal structure.
The reshuffle comes at a time when AAP is recalibrating its political strategy, with leadership roles and responsibilities under close watch.
