Ashok Mittal Replaces Raghav Chadha as AAP's Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader

In a significant internal reshuffle, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has officially appointed Ashok Mittal as its new Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha. The party formally communicated this decision to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on April 2, 2026, also requesting that Chadha no longer be allotted speaking time from AAP's quota in the Upper House. This move has ignited considerable discussion within political circles, particularly regarding the underlying reasons for Chadha's demotion. Ashok Mittal, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, is widely recognized as the founder and Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU), one of India's largest private universities. His journey into politics began in 2022 when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed from Punjab. Prior to his political career, Mittal, a law graduate from Guru Nanak Dev University, was known for his entrepreneurial success in the education sector, evolving from a modest family sweets business in Jalandhar. Since entering Parliament, he has actively participated in discussions on various policy issues, including human trafficking, economic challenges faced by farmers in Punjab, and legislative matters like the Shopkeepers Welfare Bill and the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022. He has been a member of significant parliamentary committees, including the Committee on Defence and the Committee on Finance. The removal of Raghav Chadha, a prominent and often vocal face of the AAP in national politics, has fueled speculation about a growing disconnect between him and the party's top leadership, including national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Reports suggest Chadha's prolonged silence on crucial party matters, such as Kejriwal's arrest and subsequent acquittal in the excise policy case, and his absence from key party events, contributed to this perception. Some sources indicate that Chadha's focus on broader public issues in Parliament, sometimes described as 'soft' issues, may have also been perceived as deviating from the party's core agenda. The timing of his removal also follows his absence from AAP's list of star campaigners for upcoming assembly elections. In response to the development, Ashok Mittal downplayed any notions of an internal rift or specific reasons behind Chadha's removal, characterizing the change as a "routine organisational decision" and a "continuous process" within the party. He stated that AAP believes in rotating leadership roles to provide various members with opportunities to gain administrative and political experience. Mittal explicitly denied rumors about Chadha potentially leaving the party, calling them mere speculation. Sanjay Singh continues to serve as the AAP's Leader in the Rajya Sabha. This leadership change highlights the AAP's efforts to restructure its parliamentary strategy and leadership in the Upper House. The party, which holds 10 seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, with seven MPs from Punjab, appears to be recalibrating its approach, potentially emphasizing its Punjab leadership further. While Chadha himself remained largely silent initially, he later posted a video highlighting the public interest issues he has raised in Parliament, implying he was being 'silenced, not defeated'. This development is a significant political story in India, reflecting internal party dynamics and potential shifts in parliamentary representation and strategy for one of the country's prominent political parties.

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