Raghav Chadha Stepped Down from Punjab Role in 2022, Not Dismissed

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Raghav Chadha transitioned from Punjab in-charge to an advisory role.
- Manish Sisodia's appointment as Punjab in-charge has been confirmed.
- The AAP is restructuring to strengthen its organizational framework.
- Leadership changes aim to enhance AAP's position ahead of upcoming elections.
- Clarifications from party insiders dispel removal rumors regarding Chadha.
New Delhi, March 21 (NationPress) The recent appointment of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and prominent AAP leader, Manish Sisodia, as Punjab in-charge has sparked conversations regarding the status of Raghav Chadha, the Rajya Sabha MP, in relation to his duties in Punjab.
A post circulating on the social media platform X claimed: "The Aam Aadmi Party has removed Raghav Chadha from the Punjab in-charge position. Former MLA Manish Sisodia, who is implicated in the liquor scam, has now taken over as the new Punjab in-charge."
However, this speculation has been refuted by party insiders and political analysts monitoring Punjab's landscape. They have clarified that the situation is not as it is being depicted.
Raghav Chadha was designated as co-incharge of Punjab in December 2020.
Following the AAP's ascendancy in Punjab in 2022, he resigned from this position.
He was later appointed as an advisor to the government led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
In December 2022, the then Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader, Arvind Kejriwal, congratulated Raghav Chadha for his appointment as co-incharge of the party's Punjab unit.
"Congratulations and best wishes to Raghav Chadha for being appointed as seh-prabhari of Punjab," the Chief Minister tweeted at that time. However, after the AAP came into power, Raghav was assigned a different role in 2022.
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office in July 2022 provided essential clarification regarding this matter.
The statement mentioned: "Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has designated Raghav Chadha, AAP's Rajya Sabha member, as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the state government. He will supervise the 'conception and implementation of pro-people initiatives of the AAP government in Punjab and offer guidance on financial matters.'"
With this clarification, sources have firmly asserted that there is no question of Raghav Chadha being dismissed from the Punjab in-charge position.
Instead, Jarnail Singh, the previous holder of the role, has now been succeeded by Manish Sisodia.
This reshuffle is part of a broader strategic initiative by AAP to fortify its organizational framework. Despite experiencing a setback in the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, where the party secured only 22 out of 70 seats, AAP is now concentrating on rebuilding its foundation for upcoming elections.
The leadership reshuffle includes several significant changes: former Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has been appointed as the new head of AAP's Delhi unit, while Manish Sisodia will oversee the Punjab unit. Additionally, Gopal Rai has been designated as the in-charge of the Gujarat unit.
These leadership modifications coincide with the party's focus on consolidating its influence in crucial states like Gujarat, Punjab, Goa, and Chhattisgarh, among others, in anticipation of important elections in the near future.