Evil eye emoji: Raghav Chadha’s cryptic post after AAP removes him as Rajya Sabha deputy leader

Raghav Chadha has been removed as the deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Rajya Sabha, with the party informing the Upper House secretariat of the change on Thursday.

Soon after the development, Chadha shared a video compilation of his Rajya Sabha speeches on X, accompanied by a “nazar” (evil eye) amulet emoji. He did not issue any statement or clarification.

The move comes amid reports of an internal rift between Chadha and the party leadership. AAP’s communication to the Rajya Sabha secretariat also reportedly sought that he not be allocated speaking time from the party’s quota in the House.


According to reports, the decision may be linked to alleged indiscipline and deviation from the party line. Chadha had remained silent following the recent discharge of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the excise policy-linked money laundering case. He was also absent from the party office during Kejriwal’s subsequent press conference.

Earlier, during Kejriwal’s arrest ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chadha had not issued any statement, citing recovery from eye surgery in the UK.



Meanwhile, newly appointed deputy leader Ashok Mittal described the change as a “routine party process”, asserting that there were “no specific reasons” behind it. He also dismissed claims that Chadha was being denied speaking opportunities.

“Everyone gets time to speak in our party; it is a democratic process. Raghav Chadha will also be given opportunities in the future,” Mittal said.

He added that AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had entrusted him with the role and that he would discharge his responsibilities while presenting both the party’s stance and national interest in the House.

Downplaying the reshuffle, Mittal noted that the position had previously been held by N D Gupta before Chadha. “Now I have been given this role. The party wants all MPs to learn, and perhaps in that context, I have been assigned this responsibility,” he said.

Once seen as a close confidant of Kejriwal and among the youngest MPs in the country, Chadha played a key role in AAP’s affairs, particularly in Punjab and Delhi.

He was abroad for medical reasons when Kejriwal was arrested in March 2024 and returned only months later, meeting him days after his release in September 2024. More recently, Chadha maintained silence after Kejriwal, Sisodia and others were discharged in the excise case and skipped key party events, including a press conference and a rally at Jantar Mantar.

Party sources say Chadha has increasingly been sidelined from campaigns and organisational matters, though he continues to raise public issues such as high airfares and gig workers’ conditions.

AAP currently has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha — seven from Punjab and three from Delhi.