The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday removed MP Raghav Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha in a surprise move, replacing him with fellow MP Ashok Mittal. Reacting to the decision, Raghav shared a video on social media, stating that he is “silenced, not defeated.”
He later posted another video highlighting the various public issues he has raised in Parliament over time. His sister-in-law, actor Priyanka Chopra, responded to the post, showing her support in the comments. Raghav is married to actor Parineeti Chopra, Priyanka’s cousin.
In the video, Raghav compiled clips of his speeches on key issues such as the gap between education and employment, calls for “one nation, one medical treatment,” wage indexation, and the demand for a Bharat Ratna for Bhagat Singh. He shared the reel with an Indian flag emoji, conveying a subtle message amid the ongoing political row.
Priyanka reacted with heart and applause emojis, indicating her support for him.
After being removed from the post, Raghav questioned whether raising public interest issues in Parliament was being treated as a “crime.” Meanwhile, Ashok Mittal, an industrialist-turned-politician and AAP MP from Punjab, has taken over the role.
In recent months, tensions had reportedly been building within the party, with Raghav maintaining a relatively low profile on key political developments. While he defended his focus on public issues, some party leaders criticised him for concentrating more on “soft PR” than core political battles.
AAP leaders described the move as part of internal restructuring. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed it reflected Raghav’s growing distance from party chief Arvind Kejriwal.
He also received support from Khushboo Patani, sister of actor Disha Patani, who expressed confidence in his future and leadership. (Agency)
