Leader not present, deputy missing: Raghav Chadha's dig at AAP in Rajya Sabha

Raghav Chadha took a sharp dig at his party's Rajya Sabha leadership by highlighting their absence while noting his own presence despite being recently removed as deputy leader.

In Short

• AAP MP Raghav Chadha criticises party leaders' absence in Rajya Sabha
• Says when AAP leaders are not in, removed leader is present
• Chadha was recently removed as AAP's deputy leader in Upper House

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Friday took a pointed dig at his party’s leadership in the Rajya Sabha, drawing attention to the absence of key leaders in the Upper House while noting his own presence. Chadha remarked that neither the party’s leader nor its newly appointed deputy leader was present in the House, even as he, who was recently removed from the deputy leader’s post, was in attendance.

"The leader of the party I belong to is not present in the House. The newly appointed deputy leader of the party I belong to is also not present in the House. I am the recently removed deputy leader, and I am present in the House. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to speak,” he said.

He then went on to congratulate Harivansh Narayan Singh on his re-election as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Chadha was recently removed as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, with the party also allegedly curtailing his speaking time in the House. The development had sparked speculation about differences within the party over the decision.

Sanjay Singh is the leader of the AAP in the Rajya Sabha and MP from Punjab Ashok Kumar Mittal replaced Chadha as the deputy leader in the Upper House on April 2.

While the party initially described the move as a routine organisational reshuffle, it soon escalated into a public spat. Party leaders accused Raghav Chadha of being compromised and failing to adhere to the party line, citing his silence on key issues such as the Delhi excise policy case and his reluctance to participate in certain parliamentary protests. The AAP also alleged that he avoided criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre in Parliament, instead engaging in what it termed “soft PR”.

The 37-year-old MP responded subsequently by sharing records of his parliamentary interventions, asserting, “I will let my work do the talking.” He dismissed the allegations as “lies” and maintained that his role in Parliament is to raise public issues, not to create disruptions.

Days after the verbal exchange between Chadha and the party, the Punjab government on Wednesday withdrew his Z-plus category security cover. Shortly thereafter, the Centre provided him with Z-category security.

- Ends