AAP Appoints Ashok Mittal as New Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Raghav Chadha Ousted
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has officially appointed Ashok Mittal, a lawmaker from Punjab, as its newly designated deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. This decision opens the door for the removal of Raghav Chadha, the current Deputy Leader, and introduces a fresh face from Punjab to the role.
According to well-placed sources, the party, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, has submitted a formal request to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to enact this transition and endorse Ashok Mittal as the new Deputy Leader in the Upper House.
At present, Sanjay Singh serves as the party’s leader in the Rajya Sabha and holds the position of chairperson of the AAP parliamentary party.
Additionally, the party is believed to have requested the Secretariat not to allocate any speaking time to the outgoing deputy leader. For several months, Raghav Chadha has been actively voicing concerns related to public interest and the struggles faced by the community.
There has been a noticeable tension between AAP and Raghav Chadha, although both parties have remained largely silent about their strained relations. Speculation is rife regarding the possibility of the MP changing political allegiances ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab.
The party currently boasts ten representatives in the Rajya Sabha, with a significant portion hailing from Punjab, the only state where AAP holds power.
Out of the ten MPs, seven represent Punjab: Raghav Chadha, Rajinder Gupta, Ashok Kumar Mittal, Sandeep Kumar Pathak, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Harbhajan Singh, and Sant Balbir Singh.
The remaining three MPs from Delhi are Swati Maliwal, Narain Dass Gupta, and Sanjay Singh.
The decision to replace Raghav Chadha with Ashok Mittal signifies the party's discomfort and concern regarding the dynamics among its lawmakers in the Upper House.
Previously, Swati Maliwal had openly defied party leadership following a contentious dispute over her seat, yet she continues to serve as an AAP MP in the Rajya Sabha.