New Delhi: In a major parliamentary shake‑up on 2 April 2026, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has removed Raghav Chadha from his position as **Deputy Leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of India’s Parliament). The decision was communicated to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat with a formal request that Chadha no longer be allotted speaking time from the party’s quota in the House — a clear sign of distancing him from the party’s parliamentary strategy.
The party has proposed MP Ashok Mittal as the new deputy leader in Chadha’s place, marking a significant leadership change just ahead of key legislative sessions.
Who is Ashok Mittal?
Ashok Mittal is a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and well‑known as the founder and chancellor of Lovely Professional University. He joined active politics with AAP in 2022 and has served on several important parliamentary committees, including Finance and Defence. Mittal has described the leadership change as part of a routine organisational process within the party, aimed at giving different leaders experience in parliamentary roles.
Internal dynamics and reactions
While AAP has not publicly detailed the reasons behind Chadha’s removal, political commentators and news reports note that the development has fueled speculation about internal party dynamics and possible shifts in AAP’s leadership approach. Some see it as a reflection of changing strategic priorities within the party, especially given Chadha’s recent relative distance from central party activities and silence on key developments.
Chadha, once considered among the prominent young faces of AAP and a close aide of its national leadership, triggered public interest earlier by raising issues such as paternity leave rights, gig workers’ concerns, and women’s empowerment topics in Parliament. However, his reduced visibility in party campaigns and key events has sparked speculation about his future role.
Political significance
The Rajya Sabha leadership change comes at a sensitive time for AAP as it navigates parliamentary challenges and electoral politics. Analysts suggest that while the party frames it as an organisational reshuffle, the move could also signal a recalibration of its parliamentary strategy under the leadership of Sanjay Singh, AAP’s chief in the Upper House.
Summary: AAP’s decision to remove Raghav Chadha and appoint Ashok Mittal as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha represents a noteworthy internal reshuffle, highlighting evolving leadership roles and strategic priorities within the party’s parliamentary wing.
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