In a dramatic escalation of internal tensions within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha issued a strong rebuttal after being removed as the party’s deputy leader in the Upper House, signalling what appears to be a deepening rift among its prominent faces.
Breaking his silence, Chadha alleged that a “scripted and coordinated campaign” was being run against him. In a video statement shared publicly, he said, “I did not want to speak, but if I stayed silent, a lie repeated a thousand times would start appearing as the truth.”
His sharp closing remark,“Kyonki main ghayal hoon, isiliye ghatak hoon” borrowed from film Dhurandhar, showed both defiance and a warning to detractors within his own party.
मैं बोलना नहीं चाहता था, मगर चुप रहता तो बार-बार दोहराया गया झूठ भी सच लगने लगता।
Three Allegations. Zero Truth.
My Response: pic.twitter.com/tPdjp04TLt
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) April 4, 2026
Chadha categorically rejected three major allegations levelled against him by the party leadership:
1. On Parliament Walkouts:
He dismissed claims that he failed to join Opposition walkouts, calling them a “white lie.”
“There are CCTV cameras across Parliament. Anyone can verify that I have always stood with the Opposition,” he asserted.
2. On CEC Impeachment Petition:
Responding to accusations of not signing a petition to impeach the Chief Election Commissioner, Chadha said he was never asked to sign it.
He further pointed out that several other AAP MPs also did not sign, questioning why he was being singled out.
“If only 50 signatures were required and many did not sign, why this selective outrage?” he asked.
3. On Parliamentary Conduct:
Refuting claims of being “inactive” or “afraid,” Chadha defended his record, stating that he focuses on raising substantive public issues rather than creating disruptions.
“I am not in Parliament to shout or break mics. I am here to raise issues, from GST and income tax to pollution, healthcare, and railway passengers’ concerns,” he said.
The controversy surrounding Chadha is being seen as more than an isolated disciplinary action. His removal from a key parliamentary role, coupled with public criticism from within the party, has intensified speculation about internal discord.
Popular culture in AAP
Chadha, once considered among the most prominent young faces of the Aam Aadmi Party and closely aligned with Arvind Kejriwal, had already been under scrutiny due to his absence from recent campaign activities and key political engagements.
The latest developments now point toward a broader and recurring pattern within the party, where even high-profile leaders who once formed the public face of AAP have found themselves sidelined, targeted, or pushed out after differences with the central leadership. The episode mirrors earlier controversies involving prominent figures like Swati Maliwal, who publicly raised serious allegations and faced friction within the party, and Kumar Vishwas, one of the founding members, who had a bitter fallout with the leadership and later accused the party of abandoning its original ideals.
Similarly, several other early leaders and prominent voices, including Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, were either expelled or distanced from the party during internal power struggles, reinforcing a perception that dissent within the ranks is often met with isolation rather than dialogue.
These repeated episodes have fueled a growing narrative that decision-making within AAP remains highly centralised around Kejriwal, with critics alleging that leaders outside the inner circle are reduced to secondary roles despite their contributions. The contrast between AAP’s original positioning as a grassroots-driven “common man’s party” and the experiences of its former and current leaders has increasingly come under scrutiny.
The timing of the controversy is crucial. As AAP seeks to position itself as a national alternative, visible dissent and public airing of grievances by its own star campaigners could significantly impact its political messaging and credibility.
While Raghav Chadha has maintained that he remains committed to the party’s ideals, his sharp tone and public rebuttal signal a widening trust deficit within the ranks.
