New Delhi: The internal rift within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) escalated into an open confrontation on Friday, April 3, 2026, as the party launched a blistering counter-attack against Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha. Shortly after Chadha released a video claiming he was being “silenced” by his own party, senior AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj fielded a sharp offensive, accusing the MP of political cowardice and “soft pedalling” on the BJP to build his personal brand. Using the phrase “joh dar gaya, samjho mar gaya” (he who is afraid is dead), Bhardwaj suggested that Chadha had abandoned the party’s combative spirit during its most challenging times.
The primary point of contention appears to be Chadha’s choice of parliamentary subjects. Bhardwaj dismissed Chadha’s consistent campaigns—such as his push for affordable food at airports—as “soft PR” and “samosa politics” that fails to bother the ruling BJP. The party leadership argued that parliamentary time is a limited resource that should be used to “look the Prime Minister in the eye” rather than focusing on middle-class lifestyle grievances. Bhardwaj further alleged that Chadha refused to sign an opposition-led motion to impeach the Chief Election Commissioner and failed to join walkouts on critical issues, signaling a widening chasm between Chadha and the party’s official stance.
Allegations of “Hiding” and Political Inaction:
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The “Vanishing” Act: Bhardwaj pointedly questioned Chadha’s whereabouts during the arrest of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor scam, alleging that the MP was “hiding” abroad while other leaders faced jail time.
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Silence on Punjab & Gujarat: Despite representing Punjab in the Rajya Sabha, the party claims Chadha has remained silent on the state’s critical issues and the recent “fake cases” registered against 160 AAP workers in Gujarat.
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BJP “Support”: The AAP Delhi in-charge noted that the BJP has been supporting Chadha on social media since his removal as Deputy Leader, using this as evidence that the MP is no longer viewed as a threat by the central government.
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Disenfranchisement Issues: Bhardwaj criticized Chadha for not speaking up against the alleged fraudulent voting and disenfranchisement of electors ahead of the 2026 elections, particularly the recent controversies in West Bengal.
This public falling-out comes just days after the AAP formally requested the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to stop allotting party speaking time to Chadha, effectively muzzling him in the House. While senior leader Sanjay Singh had recently dismissed rumors of Chadha joining the BJP ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections, the intensity of today’s “politics of fear” jibe suggests that the relationship between the one-time Kejriwal confidant and the party leadership may be beyond repair. Chadha maintains that he is merely fulfilling his duty by raising the everyday issues of the common man, a claim the AAP now views as a calculated attempt to distance himself from the party’s direct confrontations with the BJP.
