Jagdeep Dhankhar rejects Raghav Chadha as interim AAP leader in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday rejected the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) request to appoint its MP Raghav Chadha as the interim leader of the party in the upper house replacing Sanjay Singh, citing rules.

Singh had not attended the RS proceedings during the winter session of Parliament as he is in judicial custody in connection with the Delhi liquor scam case.

AAP's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had made the request to Dhankhar to appoint Chadha as the interim party leader in the upper house.


The request was denied by the Chairman who said that there was no provision to appoint an interim leader of the party in the house. Responding to Kejriwal's letter, Dhankhar stated that this aspect is "subject to 'The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998' and the rules made thereunder.

The request, not being in conformity to applicable legal regime, is not being acceded to." With this, Sanjay Singh continues to remain the leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha. However, Singh's term as RS member expires on January 27.