AAP Rift Deepens as Saurabh Bharadwaj Targets Raghav Chadha Over Rajya Sabha Role

New Delhi, April 2026 : Internal tensions within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) escalated further on Friday as Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a sharp attack on party MP Raghav Chadha following his removal as Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha.

Responding to Chadha’s recent remarks expressing discontent over his replacement by Ashok Mittal, Bharadwaj said the reaction appeared excessive and unnecessary. “I do not think Raghav Chadha needed to get so upset that he has almost opened a front against the party,” he remarked, while downplaying the controversy as not being a major issue.

However, Bharadwaj made it clear that the party had multiple concerns regarding Chadha’s performance. He pointed out that Chadha was nominated to the Rajya Sabha specifically to raise issues concerning Punjab, rather than representing a direct electoral mandate. “He was sent by the party to highlight the concerns of lakhs of farmers in Punjab. That was his responsibility,” Bharadwaj said.

Elaborating on this, he listed several issues he believed Chadha should have raised more actively, including pending payments to farmers, delays in MNREGA funds, and financial dues owed to the Punjab government by the Centre. According to Bharadwaj, these were pressing matters that required consistent attention in Parliament.

The Delhi AAP chief also accused Chadha of avoiding strong political stands on key national issues. He alleged that the MP refrained from signing an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner, despite concerns over voter list revisions and alleged electoral irregularities. Bharadwaj further claimed that Chadha hesitated to join Opposition walkouts in Parliament, describing this as a sign of political timidity.

“When the Opposition stages a walkout on national issues, he does not participate. Politics cannot function through fear. One needs to be brave,” Bharadwaj said, adding that Chadha should focus more on issue-based politics.

He also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of diverting attention from real issues affecting the public. Bharadwaj cited concerns such as rising fuel prices, economic pressures linked to international policies, and broader governance challenges, which he said deserved greater focus in political discourse.

The exchange highlights growing unease within AAP ranks, particularly at a time when the party is navigating political challenges in key states. While neither side has indicated any immediate reconciliation, the public nature of the disagreement has added to speculation about internal divisions.

As the situation unfolds, the leadership of the party will likely face increasing pressure to manage dissent and maintain unity ahead of upcoming political battles.