Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member, Raghav Chadha. File. | Photo Credit: Sansad TV via PTI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday (April 2, 2026) sent a letter to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to appoint MP Ashok Mittal as the deputy leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, replacing MP Raghav Chadha, according to party sources.
According to sources quoted by PTI, the letter also states that Mr Chadha – who is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab – should not be allotted time to speak in the House from the AAP quota.
The move comes amid Mr Chadha’s prolonged silence on AAP-related matters and his absence from several public events led by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal. Once considered a close confidant of Mr Kejriwal and among the youngest MPs in the country, Mr Chadha played a key role in party affairs, particularly in Punjab and during AAP’s tenure in Delhi.
Party leaders said Mr Chadha was increasingly sidelined from political campaigning and party organizational affairs in other states, although he had been vocal in and outside Parliament, raising issues such as high ticket prices and the condition of concert workers.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Mittal said that the party’s national convener had entrusted him with the role of AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and he would carry out his duties sincerely and strongly present both the party’s stand and national interests in the House.
He played down the change as a routine process, noting that earlier ND Gupta was the deputy leader of the party in the upper house and then Mr Chadha was given the responsibility.
“Now I have been given this role. Our party wants all MPs to learn and probably in that context I have been given this role to learn processes and administrative skills in politics,” he said, adding that the party remains strong.
AAP currently has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, including seven from Punjab and three from Delhi.
“Normal process, no specific reasons”: Mittal
Meanwhile, Mr Mittal on Thursday (April 2, 2026) termed Mr Chadha’s removal as a normal party process with no specific reasons behind it.
At a press conference, Mr. Mittal said he had no information about rumors that Mr. Chadha might join the BJP after being replaced as deputy leader in the House.
However, he said his predecessor would get time to speak in the Rajya Sabha.
However, Mr Mittal said, “Everyone has time to speak in our party; it is a democratic process. Raghav Chadha will also have time to speak in the Rajya Sabha in future.” Stating that AAP is a democratic party and gives responsibility to its leaders, he added that the party will decide Mr Chadha’s role in the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
Published – 02 Apr 2026 14:40 IST
