Raghav Chadha cites ‘toxic work environment’ in AAP for exit

BJP MP Raghav Chadha on Monday (April 27) said that a “toxic work environment” along with steadily deteriorating internal functioning played a key role in his exit from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

From commitment to criticism

Chadha, in a video statement posted on social media, said that he joined politics after sacrificing a promising career as a chartered accountant and dedicated 15 years of his “prime youth” to build AAP.

"I didn't come into politics to build a career. I became a founding member of a political party. I gave fifteen years of my prime youth to this party," said Chadha.

Also Read: Rajya Sabha chairman Radhakrishnan accepts merger of 7 AAP MPs with BJP

But he alleged that the organisational functioning of the AAP had changed for the worse over time, adding that it has deviated from its original spirit.

"But today, this party is no longer the same old party. Today, there's a toxic work environment at this party. You are stopped from working. You are stopped from speaking in Parliament," said Chadha.

Why he chose to leave

Chadha said that for the last few years he felt that he was “perhaps the right man but in the wrong party," adding that the AAP was being controlled by "a few corrupt and compromised people" who were working for selfish gains rather than public service.

Chadha said that he weighed three paths before walking away, including stepping out of politics entirely, staying back to push for change within the party, or shifting to another platform to pursue “constructive politics.”

Also Read: Vikramjit Sahney says he warned Kejriwal about MPs' defection: Report

He suggested his decision was not an isolated one. Seven Members of Parliament, he said, had chosen to leave together, pointing to deeper unease. “One man can be wrong, two people can be wrong, but seven people cannot be wrong,” Chadha said as quoted by ANI.

He added that his exit would not mean a retreat from public life. He said he would continue to take up people’s issues with “greater energy and commitment.”

Numbers shift in Rajya Sabha

Earlier in the day, the balance in the Rajya Sabha shifted after Chairman CP Radhakrishnan cleared the merger of Chadha and six other MPs with the BJP, taking its strength to 113.

The setback for the AAP is sharp. Its presence in the Upper House has dropped to three.

Who moved and legal debate

The group that moved includes Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, who exited on Friday and joined the BJP leadership soon after. Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Swati Maliwal also crossed over.

Also Read: ‘Gaddar’ written on Harbhajan’s house as AAP holds protests against MPs joining BJP

AAP’s Sanjay Singh had urged the Chairman to disqualify the seven, questioning the “purported merger” under the Tenth Schedule. He argued the shift amounted to defection.

The rules, however, allow such a move if two-thirds of a party’s MPs back a merger. With seven members making the switch, that threshold was met.

The development has drawn sharp reactions from AAP, which called it a “betrayal,” while the BJP welcomed the move.