Raghav Chadha is ‘compromised’, says Bhagwant Mann

A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) removed Raghav Chadha as the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday (April 3, 2026) slammed the MP saying he is “compromised”.

Mr. Mann said that Mr. Chadha went against the party line as he was unwilling to speak on issues such as deletion of votes in West Bengal or raise a voice against the arrest of AAP volunteers in Gujarat.

“When we sit as Opposition members in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, many decisions are taken collectively, like staging a walkout. But if anyone breaks the party line or does not obey, then it is against the whip. If you go against the party whip, then action will be taken,” he said.

On Mr. Chadha’s remark about being “silenced”, Mr. Mann said that when the party takes a stand on any issue, like in Gujarat, where 160 AAP volunteers and leaders have been booked, and if someone wishes to speak, there are issues such as MSP and GST.

“But, if instead of speaking on those, someone raises issues of samosa rates, pizza delivery, won’t you doubt that the person (Mr. Chadha) is speaking from some other station,” he asked.

About Mr. Chadha being removed as the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Mann said it was routine. “When I won elections for the first time (in 2014 from Sangrur Lok Sabha), Dr. (Dharamvira) Gandhi (then AAP MP now with the Congress) was made leader of the party’s parliamentary board. Later, I also served in this capacity. So, the party keeps taking such decisions,” Mr. Mann said.

The AAP has accused Mr. Chadha of shying away from raising issues against the Centre in Parliament and instead engaging in “soft PR”. AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda questioned whether someone who “fears” Prime Minister Narendra Modi can fight for the country.