Early indications of discord surfaced in 2024 when Chadha did not respond publicly following Kejriwal’s arrest in the liquor policy case. At the time, he cited a medical check-up in London as the reason for his absence from supporting the party leadership. His continued absence from protests led by AAP leaders further fueled speculation of strained relations within the party.
In September 2024, Chadha met Kejriwal after returning from London, briefly suggesting that relations between the two leaders had stabilized. However, this perception did not hold for long. In early 2025, Chadha refrained from actively campaigning for AAP candidates during the Delhi Assembly election. The election concluded with a defeat for the AAP at the hands of the BJP, resulting in Kejriwal losing his position after years in power in the national capital.
Following the release of Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia from jail in connection with the liquor policy case, Chadha’s silence became increasingly conspicuous, indicating a widening gap between him and the party leadership.
The internal conflict escalated earlier this month when the AAP replaced Chadha with Ashok Kumar Mittal as the Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. The move effectively stripped Chadha of opportunities to represent the party in the Upper House. In response, Chadha posted on social media that he was “silenced but not defeated,” and questioned whether raising issues in public interest had become a punishable act within the party.
The AAP leadership countered by alleging that Chadha had been compromised, citing his silence on matters the party intended to raise. Addressing the issue publicly, Chadha stated that he deliberately distanced himself from party activities because he did not want to be associated with what he described as wrongdoing. He asserted that he was excluded from the party’s inner circle because he refused to participate in actions he considered improper.
Chadha further explained that he and his colleagues faced a choice between withdrawing from politics entirely or continuing their public service through what he termed “positive politics.” He confirmed that two-thirds of the AAP members in the Rajya Sabha had invoked constitutional provisions to merge with the BJP.
This mass defection underscores a deep fracture within the AAP and signals a substantial political realignment, with implications for both parliamentary dynamics and the broader opposition landscape.
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