‘Picture abhi baaki hai’: Raghav Chadha defends Punjab record amid escalating AAP tensions

The internal rift within the Aam Aadmi Party intensified on Sunday, with Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha hitting back at criticism from his own party by sharing a video defending his parliamentary record.

Posting a three-minute compilation of his speeches in the Rajya Sabha, Chadha pushed back against what he described as a coordinated campaign questioning his role.

“To my colleagues in AAP who were forced to issue videos saying that ‘Raghav Chadha failed to raise Punjab’s issues in Parliament’, here is a small trailer — picture abhi baaki hai,” he wrote.

“Punjab isn’t a talking point for me. It is my home, my duty, my soil, my soul.”

AAP leadership’s sharp criticism

The party’s Punjab leadership had earlier criticised Chadha, accusing him of failing to raise key state concerns despite being elected by Punjab MLAs.

In a joint statement, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, state unit chief Aman Arora, and senior leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed dissatisfaction over what they termed his silence.

Cheema said Chadha had not raised “even a single sensitive issue” concerning Punjab in Parliament, adding that his “inaction” ran contrary to the party’s principles.

Chadha’s counter-offensive

Responding to the criticism, Chadha used the video to highlight his interventions on issues such as air pollution, rising airfares, gig workers’ rights, and the 28-day validity of mobile prepaid plans.

He maintained that his record reflects consistent engagement with public concerns, including those affecting Punjab, and reiterated his commitment to raising such issues in Parliament.

Key issues flagged by AAP

The party pointed to several unresolved matters, including Rural Development Fund dues of around Rs 8,500 crore and GST-related losses estimated at nearly Rs 60,000 crore.

Leaders also flagged reduced GST compensation, funding gaps under the National Health Mission, and delays in releasing Rs 1,600 crore in flood relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after last year’s floods.

Dhaliwal said flood-affected residents felt neglected, arguing their concerns had not been adequately raised at the national level.

Trigger: removal from key post

The confrontation comes days after the Aam Aadmi Party removed Chadha from the post of Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, signalling growing unease within the party.

The leadership also wrote to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat requesting that Chadha not be allocated time to speak in Parliament — a move seen as a significant shift in its stance toward one of its prominent parliamentary faces.

Growing internal strain

Chadha is now the second AAP Rajya Sabha MP after Swati Maliwal to have fallen out with the party leadership, pointing to broader internal tensions.

The exchange of accusations and rebuttals has exposed deepening fault lines within the party, even as it continues to govern Punjab.