Raghav Chadha Declares ‘Silenced, Not Defeated’ To Aam Aadmi After AAP Demotion [Watch]

New Delhi: A day after being removed as Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Friday posted a video message on X (formerly Twitter) addressed to the ‘aam aadmi’ (common man), declaring “Silenced, not defeated”.

In the video, Chadha directly confronts the party’s move while reaffirming his commitment to raising public issues. “Whenever I get a chance to speak in Parliament I raise public issues. Maybe I raise topics not usually raised… but is raising public issues a crime? Have I committed a crime? Have I made a mistake? Have I done something wrong?” He adds: “I am asking this question because the AAP told the Secretariat to stop Raghav Chadha from speaking in Parliament.”

Hours before Friday’s video, Chadha had shared a separate compilation montage of his recent Rajya Sabha speeches highlighting issues concerning the common man — including the tax burden on the middle class, mobile data expiry rules, demands for paternity leave as a legal right, excess baggage charges at airports, gig workers’ rights, air pollution, rising airfares, and food adulteration. That post carried only a ‘nazar’ (evil eye) emoji, seen by many as a subtle response to the party’s decision.

AAP’s Move

On Thursday (April 2, 2026), AAP formally wrote to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat seeking Chadha’s removal as Deputy Leader and his replacement by Punjab MP Ashok Mittal. The party also asked that Chadha not be allotted any speaking time from its quota in the House.

Sources close to Chadha described the step as an attempt to “silence” him.

Exit Rumours

There have been speculation over Chadha’s conspicuous absence from AAP events and rising rumours of a possible exit from the party. His silence following the relief granted to Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case had further fuelled talk of internal discord and a potential shift in his political allegiance

A chartered accountant, Chadha joined the Aam Aadmi Party at its inception in 2012 and rose rapidly through its ranks. He became one of the party’s most prominent faces, playing a key role in coordinating opposition strategies and serving as its articulate voice in public debates. He held critical positions, including national treasurer and membership in the party’s highest decision-making body, the Political Affairs Committee.

Following AAP’s victory in Punjab under Bhagwant Mann, he was widely seen as the party’s de facto number two.

The turning point in Chadha’s political trajectory came during Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in 2024. While AAP leaders protested on the streets and mobilised public support, Chadha was notably absent, reportedly in London for medical reasons. His subsequent silence appeared more like controlled disengagement even as he was simultaneously amplifying his presence by raising public-interest issues.