'Don't allot him time from AAP's quota': Kejriwal's party removes Raghav Chadha as Rajya Sabha deputy leader

The party has appointed Ashok Mittal in his place.

New Delhi: AAP on Thursday removed Raghav Chadha as its Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha and appointed Ashok Mittal in his place, signalling a breakdown in relationship between the flamboyant MP and the party leadership.

Sources said AAP has conveyed its decision to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat through a letter as also not to allot time for speaking in the House from the AAP's quota. There was no immediate reaction from Chadha, the second AAP MP after Swati Maliwal to have fallen out with the leadership.

There is no official word from the party for the reasons for removing Chadha but sources said the leadership has not taken lightly the Punjab MP's refusal to sign a notice seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar despite floor leader Sanjay Singh's instructions and staying back in House when the Opposition walks out protesting against the government.

DH had on March 2 reported that Chadha’s silence over AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal getting court relief in liquor scam case and his absence at a rally to celebrate the development in February had not gone well with the leadership.

Mittal sought to downplay the developments saying changes in leadership positions are a continuous process and rejected suggestions that Chadha was leaving the party calling it "just rumour".

"ND Gupta was Deputy Leader earlier then Chadha took over and now I have been given the responsibility. Tomorrow, someone else may get the opportunity. The party wants every MP and leader to learn and gain experience in different roles, and this responsibility has been given to me to develop administrative and political skills.”

The 37-year-old MP has been with the AAP since its inception in 2012 and considered close to Kejriwal, who had made him party’s national treasurer as well as a member of Political Affairs Committee, the highest decision-making body of AAP, besides an MLA and Rajya Sabha MP.

Chadha, a Chartered Accountant by profession, was key to Kejriwal’s plans as he was brought to Rajya Sabha two years into his MLA term and Vice Chairman of Delhi Jal Board. He was also made an advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann when the party formed government in the state.

His distancing from the leadership was witnessed from March 2024 after Kejriwal's arrest ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Chadha was abroad for an eye surgery then but remained away during Kejriwal's nearly six-month incarceration and met him only a few days after his release in September 2024.

Chadha has been sidelined from campaigns and organisational matters in other states. Chadha was seen as Kejriwal’s eyes and ears in Punjab and his interventions were said to be resented by Punjab AAP leaders. He was also part of the AAP team headed by Kejriwal that attended the first meeting of the Opposition bloc, which was later christened I.N.D.I.A. bloc, in Patna.