In a dramatic political activate April 24, Raghav Chadha introduced his exit from the Aam Aadmi Occasion (AAP) and entry into the BJP, delivering a serious blow to Arvind Kejriwal forward of the Punjab Meeting elections. Addressing a press convention on the Structure Membership in New Delhi alongside Rajya Sabha MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha declared that seven of AAP’s 10 Rajya Sabha MPs, assembly the two-thirds requirement, would merge with the BJP. The transfer, protected underneath the Tenth Schedule, shields them from disqualification underneath the anti-defection regulation.

Explaining his determination, Chadha stated the social gathering he had served for 15 years had “deviated from its core values” and now not labored within the nationwide curiosity. “I’m the proper man within the fallacious social gathering,” he stated, alleging he distanced himself to keep away from being a part of “wrongdoing.”

How Did Raghav And AAP Had A Sluggish Breakup?

The reviews about their rift had reportedly been constructing for months. It intensified throughout Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest in 2024, when Chadha remained largely absent. Although he was overseas for eye surgical procedure, his continued distance throughout Kejriwal’s practically six-month incarceration drew criticism throughout the social gathering.

Raghav Chadha’s Removing

April 2 was a date when Chadha was eliminated as AAP’s deputy chief within the Rajya Sabha and changed by Mittal, who has now additionally joined him within the swap. Inner tensions escalated as senior AAP leaders accused Chadha of going comfortable on the BJP, whereas he dismissed the allegations as “scripted.”

The AAP leaders additionally referred to as out Chadha’s absence throughout key social gathering moments, equivalent to protests, rallies, and Kejriwal’s public appearances. Sanjay Singh additional famous that Chadha didn’t signal a discover looking for the removing of the Chief Election Commissioner.

Bharadwaj additionally alleged that Chadha failed to boost points associated to Punjab and “remained overseas” throughout important durations. His absence throughout celebrations following Kejriwal’s authorized aid within the liquor coverage case and from necessary social gathering occasions added to the friction.

Responding to his removing, Chadha stated he had been “silenced, not defeated.” In a video message, he defended his document, stating that he persistently used his parliamentary platform to boost public points. He additionally questioned whether or not talking for the individuals had turn into an issue for the social gathering, alleging that AAP had even requested the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to limit his talking alternatives.

The Gradual Withdrawal

From 2023 onwards, Raghav Chadha steadily distanced himself from AAP’s actions in Punjab and from the social gathering’s core functioning.

This part overlapped with a turbulent interval for AAP, as Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia confronted corruption costs in Delhi—developments that considerably altered the social gathering’s inside dynamics.

Chadha initially remained in London citing medical causes and met Kejriwal solely after his launch from a six-month jail time period. Nonetheless, he performed solely a marginal function in AAP’s 2025 Delhi Meeting marketing campaign, which the social gathering ultimately misplaced to the BJP after a decade in energy.

Since then, Kejriwal and Sisodia have shifted their focus to Punjab forward of the 2027 Meeting elections. Chadha, in the meantime, positioned himself round “middle-class points” and even briefly hinted on the thought of launching a “Gen-Z social gathering.”