NEW DELHI: The rift between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has deepened, with senior leaders publicly accusing him of betrayal and linking recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) action against party MP Ashok Mittal to the internal fallout. The escalation comes amid reports of Chadha being granted Z-category security by the Centre, triggering sharp reactions from AAP leaders who have alleged political collusion.
‘BJP people came out to defend Raghav’: Bharadwaj targets Chadha
AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a direct attack on Chadha and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging a coordinated pattern involving central agencies, political appointments and security cover.In a post on X, Bharadwaj said: “BJP Govt toolbox is so so predictable. Raghav Chadha was threatened by ED and he out of fear or greed decided to backstab his party who made him MP or whatever he is today. When Raghav is called out on Social Media, BJP people came out to defend Raghav. On position of Dy Leader, AAP replaced Raghav with Ashok Mittal. Now ED instead of hounding Raghav , goes after Ashok Mittal and raids his home & business. And Centre gives Z+ security to Raghav Chadha. All this appears so much linked to each other. So BJP’s Govt is so desperate that they raided MP Ashok Mittal for Raghav Chadha As per sources, Raghav Chadha is behind ED raid on AAP MP Ashok Mittal.”The remarks reflect the growing distrust within AAP ranks, where Chadha’s recent removal as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha has triggered a wider political and organisational crisis.
ED raids on Ashok Mittal trigger political storm
The ED conducted searches at premises linked to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal in Punjab and Haryana under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. Officials said around 10 locations in Jalandhar and Gurugram were covered, including sites linked to Lovely Professional University and associated educational institutions.Mittal, who replaced Chadha as deputy leader in the Upper House, is also the Chancellor of the Phagwara-based university. The action has been described by AAP leaders as politically motivated, particularly in the context of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections.There was no immediate response from the BJP on the allegations made by AAP leaders.
Kejriwal alleges BJP using agencies ahead of polls
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the Centre of initiating a political crackdown ahead of elections.In a post on X, he said, “Modi ji has started preparations for the elections in Punjab. But, the people of Punjab will not tolerate this… they would give a befitting reply to the BJP.”Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann also condemned the raids, echoing concerns that central agencies were being used as part of an election strategy.AAP leader Anurag Dhanda questioned whether the BJP could contest elections without relying on agencies such as the ED and the CBI, while senior leader Manish Sisodia alleged a pattern where enforcement action is followed by political mobilisation.
Sanjay Singh attacks Centre, calls raids ‘example of same game’
AAP MP Sanjay Singh intensified the attack, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misusing institutions to secure electoral advantage.“Wherever elections are held, the BJP uses its own agencies. PM Modi’s popularity has waned across the country. Now his only option is to misuse the ED, CBI, and the Election Commission to win elections. This formula of the BJP will not work in Punjab. The sudden and massive attack on Ashok Mittal is an example of the same game. Everyone is standing together strongly, and I will try to raise this issue in the session too. These people will play many such games before the Punjab elections,” he said.Punjab minister Balbir Singh also criticised the BJP, alleging misuse of agencies and calling the action politically motivated.
BJP hits back, calls AAP ‘party for thieves’
Responding to the allegations, Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu launched a counterattack on AAP, accusing it of corruption.“Bhagwant Mann, your party is the one for thieves and robbers. The people of Punjab are filing cases against the state’s ministers, and investigation agencies are catching a few corrupt MPs. Modi ji’s policy is Clean India; under it, the filth will certainly be cleaned up,” he said.The sharp exchange underscores the intensifying political battle in Punjab ahead of elections, with both sides trading allegations over corruption and misuse of power.
What triggered the AAP vs Raghav Chadha fallout
The current crisis traces back to Chadha’s removal as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, a move seen as a major setback for one of AAP’s prominent national faces. Once considered a close aide of Kejriwal and a key strategist behind the party’s Punjab victory in 2022, Chadha has in recent months found himself at odds with the leadership.AAP leaders accused him of deviating from the party line, engaging in what they termed “soft PR”, and failing to aggressively target the Centre in Parliament. They also pointed to his absence during key political moments, including protests and leadership crises.Chadha, however, has rejected the allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. In a video message, he said his silence should not be mistaken for weakness and challenged the party to provide evidence for its claims.The fallout has now moved beyond internal disagreements to a full-blown public confrontation, with leaders openly questioning Chadha’s loyalty and intent. Bharadwaj’s remarks linking him to ED action have further escalated tensions, marking one of the sharpest attacks by the party against its own MP.The developments come at a critical time for AAP, particularly in Punjab where it is in power and faces upcoming electoral challenges. The combination of internal dissent, central agency action and political attacks from rivals has created a volatile environment for the party. Go to Source
