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This is the first time after a long wait that Aam Aadmi Party has taken any action against its own MP Raghav Chadha. Raghav Chadha, who has been going viral on social media for the last few days, has been removed by AAP from the post of its deputy leader in Rajya Sabha. Raghav Chadha, who has been almost silent on party issues since the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, has reacted that he was silenced but he is not defeated. It is being said that this is a storm after the silence that has been going on for almost 2 years, which may now take many more turns.

Raghav Chadha, who once received epithets like ‘the apple of Kejriwal’s eyes’, ‘Super CM of Punjab’, ‘number 2 in AAP’, now neither attends party meetings nor ever makes any mention of the party. Even when Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia got relief in excise policy, Raghav Chadha did not even tweet. Last year, on the birthday of Arvind Kejriwal, Raghav Chadha had tweeted a mere formality. The tweets made by Raghav Chadha congratulating Kejriwal on his birthday in the year 2024 and 2025 also became a reason for discussion.

Now what has Raghav said?

Raghav Chadha said, ‘Whenever I get a chance to speak in Parliament, I raise public issues in Rajya Sabha. Perhaps I raise such issues which are not usually raised in Parliament. Is it a crime to raise public issues and talk about public issues? Have I committed any crime, any mistake? I am asking this question today because Aam Aadmi Party has said in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat that Raghav Chadha should be banned from speaking in Parliament. After raising these issues, the common man of the country benefited but what loss did the Aam Aadmi Party suffer from this? Why would anyone want to stop me from speaking? Why would anyone want to silence my voice? You guys give me unlimited love. You encourage me. I will continue to raise your issues like this. I am with you, I am for you.

Raghav Chadha, who was once Kejriwal’s best friend, has neither been seen in any AAP meeting for a long time nor does he speak on party issues. He is the national spokesperson but does not represent the party in TV debates. Recently, Raghav Chadha’s name was not included in the list of star campaigns released by AAP for the Assam Assembly elections. This shows that the distance has now become so great that it has become difficult to bridge.

Has the distance increased in a year?

The tweet made by Raghav Chadha on 16 August 2024 to wish Arvind Kejriwal on his birthday was of four paragraphs but the tweet made on 16 August 2025 was of one line. Interestingly, Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on 21 March 2024 itself. Regarding Kejriwal’s arrest, Raghav Chadha had written, ‘Today we are celebrating not just a person but a phenomenon. Arvind Kejriwal, you have shown that honesty and service can be the center of politics. You are a freedom fighter of modern India. As history has shown, only truth will prevail. They can keep you in jail but they cannot shake the hope that you have awakened in the minds of millions of people like me.

Raghav Chadha further writes, ‘You changed the politics of India and proved that a common man can lead a revolution if he shows enough courage. Your legacy is more than politics. This movement of truth and justice is not going to stop now. This fight will continue and we always stand with you. Happy Birthday.’

While congratulating Kejriwal on 16 August 2025, Raghav Chadha writes, ‘Many congratulations to Arvind Kejriwal ji on his birthday. May he remain healthy and happy and may he live a long life. While congratulating in just a few words, the picture posted by Raghav Chaddha had only Kejriwal in it, whereas in last year’s congratulation, Raghav Chaddha and his entire team were with Kejriwal. This shows that something has happened in the last one year which has increased the distance between Kejriwal and Raghav.

Sparkle in Punjab, increasing distance and a meeting

Aam Aadmi Party government is formed in Punjab in the year 2022. Bhagwant Mann became the Chief Minister but Raghav Chadha was accused many times that he was running the government like a Super CM. His interference meant that he was doing the work of Arvind Kejriwal. Raghav, who became MLA from Delhi Rajendra Nagar assembly seat in 2020, was sent to Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2022 itself. In one fell swoop, his status increased and he became more active there, being a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab. Many times leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also raised questions about Raghav Chadha. When Raghav Chadha and Parineeti Chopra got married and Punjab Police was seen very active in this marriage, a lot of questions were raised on it.

Well, the main story starts with Raghav Chadha going to London after the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. At that time, AAP leaders said many times that Raghav had gone to get his eyes treated. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections were going on when the case of Swati Maliwal and Vibhav Kumar came to light. At exactly that time Raghav Chadha returned from London. On the day Vibhav Kumar was arrested, Raghav Chadha was seen wearing dark glasses and reached the police station. Then once I felt that everything would be fine and Raghav would now be active. He also met Arvind Kejriwal.

Later in November 2024, he was on the stage with Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann at the swearing-in ceremony of Hemant Soren. Used to attend INDIA block meetings in December 2024. He was giving his opinion as a spokesperson on behalf of AAP regarding Haryana Assembly elections.

Will the situation change after June 2025?

Even at that time, Raghav Chadha had started raising many such issues which were becoming a topic of discussion. Raghav Chadha had also raised the issue of expensive food available at the airport in the Parliament at the same time and later it was decided to open Udaan Café. This shows that at least till November-December 2024, Raghav Chaddha was active in the party and was seen with Arvind Kejriwal even if occasionally.

He was also campaigning for the party during the Delhi Assembly elections in January 2025 and also spoke as a spokesperson on party matters till April. He was also raising a lot of questions regarding all the policies of the Central Government and remained a favorite of his party. Raghav Chadha also congratulated on the victory of Gopal Italia and Sanjeev Arora in the by-election held in June 2025. However, during this period he had stayed away from the party platforms.

The matter seems to be changing from here. AAP’s prominent leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, who had lost Delhi, had become active in Punjab and Raghav Chadha had remained away. When there were floods in Punjab in July-August, Raghav Chadha reached with help but neither were AAP leaders with him nor did he inform the AAP leaders about it. Meanwhile, in the month of August, Raghav Chadha wished Kejriwal on his birthday in just one tweet but did not meet him. Since then, many big meetings of AAP have been held in many states including Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh but Raghav Chadha was not seen in even a single meeting.

Jealousy of popularity or punishment for not standing together?

It is being said that Raghav Chadha now neither informs the party about the issues he raises nor follows the instructions of the party. He raises issues from his own mind and these issues are such that he does not directly question the ruling BJP. However, it is not clear whether communication has been stopped by Raghav Chadha or AAP itself has distanced itself from him. Recently, leaders like Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia said that there is no information about Raghav joining any other party, but both of them advised the questioner that this question should be asked to Raghav Chadha also.

Many journalists who spoke to Raghav also said that he did not want to give any answer on these issues. However, now after the action taken by AAP, the reply given by Raghav Chadha shows that the water has gone above the head. It is also being said that when the party needed it the most, Raghav Chadha had kept a distance at that time, due to which Kejriwal became angry with him. It is also being said that the message from Arvind Kejriwal is very clear that now there can be no talk with Raghav Chadha.

Arvind Kejriwal has already done the same thing in the case of leaders like Yogendra Yadav, Kumar Vishwas and Swati Maliwal. Once the leader was out of his sight, he neither talked to him nor made any attempt to persuade him. Now it remains to be seen whether Raghav Chadha takes any action immediately or waits till 2028, when his Rajya Sabha tenure will end.