Atishi, one of the senior leaders in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), directed her ire at Raghav Chadha with comments that indicated he was “afraid,” in conjunction with other issues, to take an open stance against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shortly after Raghav’s removal from his role as deputy leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, this move fueled speculation about the presence of internal discord within the AAP.
Raghav’s dismissal from the deputy leader position was immediately confirmed to the secretariat of the Rajya Sabha after the party sent a formal notification and replaced him with MP Ashok Mittal (the name of the new deputy). The announcement appeared on all official documents to indicate an immediate leadership change.
Bhagwant Mann Also Launches An Attack On Raghav Chadha
According to reports, Bhagwant Mann, after Raghav Chadha’s removal as deputy leader of the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, publicly announced his criticism of Chadha, stating, “He is compromised”. Mann also voiced his support for the party’s decision by saying Chadha’s recent actions give the impression he was “speaking from a different station”.
Reports say that Mann further commented, “We are addressing major issues such as MSP and outstanding funds from the central government; however, when we highlight insignificant issues such as food prices at the airport or the timing for pizza to be delivered, we have subsequently raised serious concerns regarding our commitment to the AAP line.” Mann made it clear that action would be taken against those who do not support the AAP; therefore, the reason for Raghav’s removal was based on disciplinary issues as opposed to just a routine change.
As of this time, the AAP has not released any official explanations regarding Raghav’s removal; however, it has been reported numerous times that Raghav’s lack of voice on important political topics surrounding prominent AAP leaders has left many questions regarding Raghav’s future with the AAP.
Atishi’s Confrontation: “Are You Afraid Of PM Modi?”
Following his dismissal, Atishi made a bold and direct attack on Chadha for his political position by publicly asking him if he is afraid of PM Modi; this comment brought immediate attention and sparked a debate in the political arena.
As per reports, many other leaders made similar comments, accusing Chadha of being “compromised” and not standing behind party leadership. Comments such as “You are afraid, Raghav,” and questions about loyalty indicate that this is not a standalone criticism of Chadha, but a larger movement inside the party.
Increased Tension Between AAP Leaders
The situation illustrates an increasing divide between AAP leaders. There has been open criticism of Chadha’s inability or unwillingness to take the fight to the BJP and its leadership.
Other issues will also continue to contribute to the growing distrust of Chadha by AAP leaders. Chadha has been perceived as pulling away from many of the party’s key activities, as he has not been present at several of the party’s largest events nor has he contacted important political figures throughout his tenure with AAP.
Raghav Chadha Shows Strength by Responding to Criticism: “Silenced, Not Defeated”
Despite facing backlash from both the media and his own colleagues, Chadha has shown he is still going to be an active member of the public by sharing with them his ongoing work with respect to issues that connect with the public.
Chadha has also responded by posting via social media an “evil eye” emoji which has led many people to believe this was a veiled response to his recent expulsion from the party. Neither Chadha nor the AAP made any statements confirming or denying the existence of the allegations against Chadha or how they would impact AAP.
Khalid Qasid is a media enthusiast with a strong interest in documentary filmmaking. He holds a Master’s degree in Convergent Journalism from AJK MCRC. He has also written extensively on esports at Sportsdunia. Currently, he covers world and general news at NewsX Digital.
