The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday replaced Raghav Chadha as the deputy leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha with Ashok Mittal, in a move that opposition leaders said indicate a rift in the party. Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha during the second part of the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Monday, March 30 (PTI)

Party leaders said a letter was sent to the Rajya Sabha secretariat seeking to replace Chadha with Mittal. “Rajya Sabha secretariat was made aware of the party’s decision,” AAP’s leader of the house in Rajya Sabha Sanjay Singh told reporters.

Party leaders described the decision as part of internal restructuring. But the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed the move was result of Chadha’s “distancing himself” from party’s national convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“The way Raghav Chadha has been replaced and sidelined shows that he has distanced himself from the anarchic and corrupt leadership of Arvind Kejriwal,” Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva claimed.

‘It’s clear he's separate from AAP' Congress lawmaker Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said it is now clear that Chadha is separate from the AAP, citing reports that Chadha was away from several public events led by Kejriwal.

“People realised this long ago, when he went to London while Kejriwal was arrested. Public perception now is that Chadha will leave or be removed from the party and join elsewhere,” the Punjab Congress president was quoted as saying by ANI.

When Kejriwal was arrested in connection with the excise policy case in March 2024, Chadha was absent from the protests and maintained he was in London for an eye surgery.

Hours after being replaced as deputy leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha, Chadha, who is yet to issue any statement or speak to the media on the issue, posted a video on social media highlighting issues he raised in his role in the Upper House.

The AAP currently has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha — seven from Punjab and three from Delhi. Chadha represents Punjab in the Upper House. Party insiders said that with Punjab going to assembly polls next year, the party wants to give more prominence to the state’s issues in Parliament.

Delhi BJP chief Sachdeva claimed Chadha is the second lawmaker of AAP, after Swati Maliwal, to have fallen out with the party leadership. “First it was Swati Maliwal and now Raghav Chadha, both key figures in AAP Delhi, who appear to have moved away from Kejriwal’s style of functioning,” he added.

Industrialist-turned-lawmaker Mittal, who replaces Chadha, a chartered accountant by profession, sought to downplay speculation of discord, calling the reshuffle part of routine organisational functioning.

“AAP is a democratic party and believes in giving opportunities to different leaders to raise important issues,” Mittal said.

“I am thankful to the party and Arvind Kejriwal for giving me this opportunity,” Mittal added.