Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Sunday issued his first video statement after quitting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joining the BJP, alleging that AAP had turned into a “toxic” political organisation controlled by a few “corrupt and compromised” individuals. Raghav Chadha said the party no longer reflected the principles on which it was founded and claimed internal dissent had been systematically stifled.

In his statement, Raghav Chadha said he had spent 15 years building AAP but could no longer continue in what he described as a hostile political environment. He said the party had stopped functioning as a platform for public service and was now being run for personal gain by a select group of leaders.

Toxic Work Charge

Raghav Chadha alleged that AAP’s internal work culture had become deeply restrictive, with leaders being prevented from speaking in Parliament and discouraged from functioning independently. He said the work environment had become so toxic that meaningful political engagement was no longer possible.

According to Raghav Chadha, the party leadership had increasingly sidelined those who raised concerns or sought reform. He said the atmosphere within the organisation had become comparable to a workplace where employees were routinely silenced and their work suppressed.

Three Options Before Him

Explaining his decision, Raghav Chadha said he had weighed three options before leaving AAP. The first was to quit politics altogether. The second was to remain in the party and attempt internal reform. The third was to continue in public life through another political platform.

He said he chose the third option and joined the BJP to continue what he called “positive politics”. Raghav Chadha maintained that his move was not personal but political, and aimed at continuing public service with greater institutional support.

Seven MPs Back Move

Raghav Chadha also defended the collective exit of seven Rajya Sabha MPs from AAP, arguing that the scale of the split reflected deeper problems within the party. He said one or two leaders could be dismissed as dissenters, but seven MPs leaving together could not be ignored.

The Rajya Sabha has since approved the merger of seven former AAP MPs with the BJP. With this, Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Vikramjit Sahney, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Swati Maliwal and Rajinder Gupta now stand officially recognised as BJP members in the Upper House. The development has raised the BJP’s tally in the Rajya Sabha to 113.

AAP Pushes Back

AAP has strongly contested the exits and the merger process. Party leaders have accused the MPs of political betrayal and indicated they would challenge the move through parliamentary procedure.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh has said the party will seek disqualification proceedings by writing to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, arguing that only three MPs had formally joined the BJP at the initial stage. In Punjab, protests have been reported outside the homes of some of the MPs who left AAP, with demonstrators accusing them of betraying the party mandate.

Political Fallout Widens

The fallout has triggered a wider political confrontation between AAP and BJP, especially in Punjab and Delhi, where the party had built much of its support base. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu over the matter and is expected to raise concerns linked to defections and political accountability.

The split marks one of the biggest internal ruptures in AAP since its formation and is likely to reshape its parliamentary strength and political messaging ahead of key electoral contests.

What Happens Next

The next phase will likely centre on legal and procedural scrutiny of the Rajya Sabha merger, along with AAP’s political response on the ground. Party leaders are expected to intensify outreach to contain organisational damage, while the BJP is likely to project the move as a sign of growing national support.

For Raghav Chadha, the immediate challenge will be to justify the shift politically and retain credibility among voters who backed him as an AAP leader.

The political standoff between Saurabh Bhardwaj and Raghav Chadha has intensified into one of the sharpest internal confrontations seen in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with the dispute now spilling beyond ideology into personal attacks. The latest flashpoint came after Bhardwaj accused Chadha of using the party’s political platform for personal advancement, including claiming that his marriage to actor Parineeti Chopra became possible only because he was made a Rajya Sabha MP.

The remarks mark a sharp escalation in the ongoing feud that began after Raghav Chadha publicly distanced himself from AAP and criticised the party’s internal functioning. The exchange has quickly become a major India News Update, drawing attention across political and social circles.

Chadha Breaks Silence

Raghav Chadha on Monday broke his silence through a video statement, defending his decision to part ways with the party he had served for over a decade. He said he had left behind a chartered accountancy career to help build AAP and spent 15 years working for the organisation.

In his statement, Chadha described the party’s internal environment as “toxic” and alleged that AAP had drifted away from its founding principles. He claimed the organisation had come under the influence of “corrupt elements” and said remaining in such a setup was no longer possible.

Chadha compared his decision to leaving a workplace where the environment had become unworkable, arguing that changing course was necessary when institutional values begin to erode.

Bhardwaj Hits Back

Saurabh Bhardwaj responded with a direct and aggressive rebuttal, rejecting Chadha’s comparison between politics and a corporate workplace. He said politics was rooted in ideology and public accountability, not professional convenience.

Bhardwaj accused Chadha of betraying the party that gave him political recognition and alleged that his exit was part of a larger effort to weaken AAP from within. According to party leaders, Chadha’s move has triggered concern within the organisation over possible defections and political realignment.

In his strongest remark, Bhardwaj said Chadha’s political relevance and social visibility were built entirely through AAP, adding that even his marriage had been made possible because of the stature he gained as a Rajya Sabha member.

Marriage Remark Sparks Debate

Bhardwaj’s comments on Chadha’s marriage to Parineeti Chopra have drawn immediate political and social attention. The couple married in September 2023 in a high-profile ceremony that had attracted wide public and media coverage.

The reference to Chadha’s personal life has widened the controversy, with critics questioning whether private relationships should be dragged into political disputes. The remark has also triggered fresh debate on social media, where supporters and critics of both leaders have sharply reacted.

As per reports, the personal nature of the attack has made the fallout more politically sensitive, especially for a party that has often projected itself as distinct from conventional personality-driven politics.

Crisis Inside AAP

The public fallout reflects a deeper internal crisis within AAP, which is facing one of its most serious organisational challenges since its rise as a national political force. The current conflict appears to stem from both ideological disagreements and leadership distrust.

Party insiders indicated that Chadha’s criticism has been viewed by sections of the leadership as more than a resignation, with some interpreting it as an attempt to damage the party’s internal cohesion. AAP leaders have also alleged that Chadha was working to destabilise the organisation at a critical political moment. That charge has not been independently verified, but it has become central to the party’s public response.

Political Stakes Rise

The escalating feud comes at a sensitive time for AAP, which is trying to retain its national relevance amid pressure from both the BJP and Congress. A prolonged public split could affect cadre morale, voter confidence and the party’s ability to maintain a coherent national message.

For Chadha, the fallout also carries political risk. Once seen as one of AAP’s most visible national faces, his public break with the party has now turned into a credibility battle over loyalty, ambition and political intent.