The Aam Aadmi Party hit out at Raghav Chaddha after he jumped ship and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing of betraying the party that played a role in his political rise. AAP leaders stated that the party had “given everything” to Raghav Chadha, referring to the responsibilities and positions he held since joining politics. He was widely regarded as a close associate of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and one of the prominent young faces of the party
Reacting to his switch, AAP leaders described the move as “opportunistic” and a “betrayal of trust”. Some members also termed it as “backstabbing” alleging that Chadha chose to leave at a crucial time after benefitting from the party’s support and platform.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of using the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI to poach seven of its MPs. “The BJP used state machinery to create fear and initiate Operation Lotus,” he said. The AAP leader also alleged that the BJP was attempting to bring down the Bhagwant Mann government through the use of investigative agencies. “Operation Lotus” is a term used in Indian politics to describe alleged efforts by the BJP to topple opposition governments by persuading or engineering defections of rival party legislators.
"Our party did so many things for these seven MPs. The people of Punjab gave them so much love. They sent them to the Rajya Sabha. Yet, they ended up in the lap of the BJP. People of Punjab will not forgive these traitors,” he added. Singh added that the people of Punjab would punish Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for “Operation Lotus” against the Mann government. "The BJP has tried to obstruct the good work done by the Bhagwant Mann government. The ED and the CBI have been used against the Punjab Government," he alleged.
Raghav Chadha rose quickly within AAP and became one of its most visible spokespersons. He served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha and was actively involved in key political campaigns and organizational responsibilities. Over time, he emerged as an important figure in representing the party at the national level. His exit is therefore being viewed as a significant development for AAP.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have defended the development, rejecting AAP’s allegations. BJP leaders have stated that political leaders are free to choose their affiliations and that such moves reflect confidence in the party’s leadership and policies.
The situation has also drawn attention due to Chadha’s past statements critical of the BJP. Old videos and remarks in which he strongly criticized the party have resurfaced and are being widely circulated. This has added another layer of controversy, with AAP leaders questioning his consistency, while BJP supporters have dismissed it as part of routine political discourse.
Political analysts have pointed to a noticeable shift in the political stance of Raghav Chadha. A few years ago, he had strongly criticized the BJP in public speeches calling it “a party of goons.” Observers had also noticed that during the arrests of senior AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia by the ED, Chadha had reportedly fled to London.
In addition, some of his earlier social media posts criticizing the BJP were reportedly deleted from social media platform ‘X’ in recent months. These developments have raised questions among observers about changes in his political position.
Critics online say that this episode highlights the continuing trend of party switching in Indian politics, often leading to sharp exchanges between political parties. While AAP has framed the move as a betrayal by a trusted leader, the BJP has presented it as a sign of expanding support.
