New Delhi’s political circles witnessed a major development this week when Raghav Chadha, one of the prominent faces of the Aam Aadmi Party, broke his silence after being removed from the post of Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha.
On Friday, Chadha shared a video message on the social media platform X, captioned “Silenced, not defeated… My message to the aam aadmi…”, indicating both his stance and the ongoing turmoil within the party. This move came a day after the party appointed Ashok Mittal in his place and informed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
Silenced, not defeated
My message to the ‘aam aadmi’
—
खामोश करवाया गया हूँ, हारा नहीं हूँ‘आम आदमी’ को मेरे संदेश pic.twitter.com/poUwxsu0S3
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) April 3, 2026
Speculation of differences within the party
This decision has fueled speculation about differences within the party, especially regarding Chadha’s relationship with Arvind Kejriwal. Chadha’s silence on party activities and his absence from Kejriwal’s events for some time had further fueled these speculations.
Chadha, once considered close to Kejriwal, played a key role in the party’s strategies, especially in Punjab and Delhi. His sudden removal from the post raises many questions.
Public Issues Raised in Video
In his video message, Chadha recalled the issues he raised in Parliament. He highlighted issues such as the tax burden on the middle class, mobile data expiration, the need to make paternity leave a legal right, social security for gig workers, and airlines’ excess baggage charges.
He questioned, “I raise public issues. Is it a crime to raise public voice?” This statement suggested that he was being marginalized for raising his voice.
AAP’s Clarification and New Leadership
The Aam Aadmi Party, meanwhile, described the entire matter as a normal process. New deputy leader Ashok Mittal stated that this change is part of the rotation of responsibilities within the party and that all MPs are given the opportunity to advance. He also clarified that Chadha’s role in Parliament will remain.
However, the timing and manner of this decision have raised questions among political analysts. While Chadha is presenting himself as the voice of the people, the party is trying to portray everything as normal.
It will be interesting to see whether this is merely a routine change or a sign of a larger shift within the Aam Aadmi Party. For now, it is clear that Raghav Chadha has made it clear—he may have been silenced, but he will not back down.