Raghav Chadha faces backlash after joining BJP, loses followers

Following his high-profile defection from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 24, 2026, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha faced a swift and substantial online backlash, most notably a significant decrease in his social media following. Reports indicate that Chadha lost over one million Instagram followers within a mere 24-hour period following his announcement. His follower count reportedly dropped from approximately 14.6 million on Friday, April 24, 2026, to around 13.5 million by Saturday afternoon, April 25, 2026. This rapid decline in followers has been widely attributed to a "Gen Z backlash" and an organized "unfollow" campaign on social media platforms. Hashtags such as #UnfollowRaghav and #UnfollowRaghavChadha began trending on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram shortly after his press conference announcing the move to the BJP. Political commentators and social media users have suggested that this reaction stems from a perceived betrayal of his earlier stance against the BJP, with viral clips of his past criticisms of the party being recirculated. Many younger supporters, who had viewed Chadha as a progressive and reform-oriented leader, expressed disappointment and a sense of being deceived by his move to a party he had previously denounced. Chadha's departure from the AAP was not an isolated event. He was accompanied by six other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including prominent figures like Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, in this move to the BJP. This collective exit of seven out of AAP's ten Rajya Sabha members allowed them to bypass the Anti-Defection Law, which requires a two-thirds majority for a legal merger. The AAP has condemned the defections as a "betrayal" and accused the BJP of orchestrating "Operation Lotus". Prior to this defection, Chadha had reportedly been sidelined within the AAP, having been removed from his position as the party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha on April 2, 2026. This removal fueled speculation about internal rifts and his potential departure from the party. Raghav Chadha, a chartered accountant by profession, had risen to prominence as a key leader and "poster boy" of the Aam Aadmi Party, particularly among young and urban voters. His political strategy often focused on issues relevant to the common person, such as gig worker challenges and traffic congestion, which contributed to his popularity with Gen Z. His prior public image was built on advocating for reform and challenging the status quo. The current backlash highlights the significant influence of social media in shaping political narratives and public perception, especially among younger demographics who are quick to react to perceived inconsistencies in political messaging. The article from The Times of India, which is the primary source for this verification, claims that Raghav Chadha lost over 1 million followers. The related articles corroborate this claim, with multiple sources indicating a loss of approximately one million followers on Instagram within 24 hours of his joining the BJP. The timing of the events, with the defection occurring on April 24, 2026, and the follower loss being reported by April 25, 2026, is consistent across reports. The news is specific to India and falls under the Politics category. The publication date of the original article is implied to be April 25, 2026, based on the timing of the events reported and the datestamps found in the search results. The event is of significant national interest in India, dealing with a major political party and a prominent leader's defection. The immediate aftermath includes public reaction and social media trends, suggesting a high level of urgency and importance.

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