Raghav Chadha
Chadha in 2026
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 May 2022
Preceded by Naresh Gujral
Constituency Punjab
Vice Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board
In office
2 March 2020[1][2] – 22 March 2022
Preceded by Dinesh Mohaniya
Succeeded by Saurabh Bharadwaj
Member of Delhi Legislative Assembly
In office
12 February 2020 – 24 March 2022
Preceded by Vijender Garg Vijay
Succeeded by Durgesh Pathak
Constituency Rajinder Nagar
Personal details
Born (1988-11-11) 11 November 1988 (age 37)
Delhi, India
Party Aam Aadmi Party
Spouse
Parineeti Chopra
​
(m. 2023)​
[3][4][5]
Children 1
Alma mater University of Delhi
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
London School of Economics[6]
Occupation Politician
Profession Chartered accountant

Raghav Chadha (born November 11, 1988) is an Indian politician and a member of the Aam Aadmi Party, who is serving as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian parliament.[7][8] He was elected to the Rajya Sabha by the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 2022.[9] He served as the former vice chairman of the Delhi Jal Board and a member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly from the Rajinder Nagar constituency from 2020 till 2022.[10] He is also a working chartered accountant.[11]

Early life

Born on 11 November 1988 in New Delhi, Chadha received his school education from Modern School (New Delhi) and earned his bachelor's degree in Commerce from University of Delhi (DU) in 2009. He then pursued Chartered Accountancy from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in 2011.[12] In his early career he worked with accountancy firms including Deloitte and Grant Thornton.[11]

Political career

Chadha has been a part of the Aam Aadmi Party since its inception.[13] Arvind Kejriwal encouraged him in drafting the Delhi Lokpal Bill in 2012, which was also his first political task.[14] He established himself as the AAP's TV face and also became the youngest national spokesperson of the AAP and one of the youngest across parties.[15]

When AAP won the 2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election with a majority, Chadha, at the age of 26 was appointed AAP's national treasurer. In April 2018, the then Union Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh, terminated his appointment as an advisor to Manish Sisodia along with 9 other advisors.[16]

Lok Sabha Election

In 2019, Chadha contested from the South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He lost in the elections to the BJP candidate, Ramesh Bidhuri.[17][18] Since the 1980s, South Delhi has been a BJP stronghold and represented by stalwarts like Madan Lal Khurana, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Sushma Swaraj and Ramesh Bidhuri as well as Balraj Madhok of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological and political predecessor of BJP.[19]

In 2020, as a leader of AAP, Chadha was appointed AAP Punjab co-in-charge for the Punjab Legislative Assembly election in 2022, playing a crucial role in the party's eventual landslide victory, where AAP won 92 out of 117 seats.[20][21]

MLA in Delhi Vidhan Sabha

In February 2020, Chadha contested from Rajinder Nagar in the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election and won against BJP's candidate RP Singh with a margin of 20,058 votes. He polled a massive 57.06% of the total votes.[22] Following the elections, he was appointed vice-chairman of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and where he focused on providing clean, 24x7 piped water supply and cleaning the Yamuna River, significantly improving Delhi's water management systems.

MP in Rajya Sabha

On 21 March 2022, it was announced that Chadha along with four others were nominated by AAP for the post of Rajya Sabha members from Punjab for a six-year term starting 2022.[23] No opposition candidate opposed their election.[24] This made him the youngest Indian Rajya Sabha MP ever at the age of 33. He was also appointed as a member of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance in Rajya Sabha. The committee oversees the laws and policies drafted by three union ministries and the NITI Aayog.[25]

In April 2022, Chadha said that Bharatya Janata Party (BJP) settled Bangladeshi people and Rohingyas in Delhi and uses them to cause riots.[26]

Credited with the party's success in Punjab, on 18 September 2022, Chadha was appointed co-in-charge for the 2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election.[27] He is appointed as a leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Rajya Sabha.[28]

In the wake of Sanjay Singh, the floor leader of the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, being unable to discharge his responsibilities while in judicial custody, the party leader and Delhi CM Kejriwal, had requested the chairman of Rajya Sabha to appoint Chadha as AAP's interim leader of the House in early December 2023. However, the request was turned down, as the request reportedly was not in conformity with the applicable legal regime governed by The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998 and the Rules made thereunder.[29]

Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab

After AAP's victory in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appointed Chadha as the chairman of an advisory panel. A plea challenging his appointment was struck down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.[30]

Removal as Deputy Leader

On 02 April 2026, AAP suddenly removed Chadha from the post of its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing him with Punjab MP Ashok Kumar Mittal. This was said to be the result of Chadha’s prolonged absence from key party events and perceived silence on sensitive issues, sparking speculation of internal rifts.[31][32][33][34]

At the same time, this has also led speculations of his joining BJP.[35][36][37]

While Chadha and AAP leaders traded charges against each other, Ex-AAP leader Naveen Jaihind called Raghav Chadha Kejriwal's "raazdaar", and claimed that the whole dispute was related to "extortion". Jaihind posted a video on his social media handles, making serious allegations about Raghav Chadha. He said the whole feud is surrounded by the money which was "extorted" from Delhi and Punjab and was later taken to London by him, although it was originally intended to be taken to Singapore. Jaihind alleged that Chadha was called to CM residence in Delhi and Chandigarh, where he was beaten up, during which he suffered an eye injury and later traveled to England for treatment. [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43]

Position Held

Positions Held
Duration Position[44]
Feb. 2020 – March 2022 Member, Delhi Legislative Assembly
(Rajinder Nagar Assembly constituency)
Chairman, Committee on Petitions
Delhi Legislative Assembly
Chairman, Committee on Peace and Harmony
Delhi Legislative Assembly
Vice Chairman
Delhi Jal Board
Member, Business Advisory Committee
Delhi Legislative Assembly
Member, Committee on Ethics
Delhi Legislative Assembly
Member, Committee on Salary and Other Allowances of
Members of Delhi Legislative Assembly
April 2022 Elected to Rajya Sabha
Sept. 2022 – June 2024 Member, Committee on Finance
Nov. 2022 – Oct. 2024 Member, Committee on Subordinate Legislation
Sept. 2024 – Sept. 2025 Member, Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs
Oct. 2024 onwards Member, Committee on
Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme
Member, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table
Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence
Sept. 2025 onwards Member, Committee on External Affairs

Personal life

Chadha got engaged to actress Parineeti Chopra, on 13 May 2023 at Kapurthala House in New Delhi.[45] They were married on 24 September 2023 at The Leela Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony.[46][47] The couple welcomed their first child, a boy, on 19 October 2025,[48] and named their son as 'Neer'.[49]

In 2024, Chadha went to London to undergo a vitrectomy surgery. When asked about his long absence, his party colleague Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that he could have lost eyesight if not for timely operation.[50]

Controversies

On 8 August 2023, five MPs claimed that their names were mentioned on the proposal to send the Delhi NCR Amendment Bill to the Select Committee without their consent, by a motion moved by Raghav Chadha. They accused Chadha of forgery and breach of privilege.[51][52] On 11 August, Chadha was suspended from the Rajya Sabha, for "Gross Violation Of Rules".[53]

In April 2024, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Amritsar North and former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, made serious allegations against his party's senior leader, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha. During a rally in Amritsar, Singh accused Chadha of having close associations with at least two Punjab Police officers allegedly involved in supporting the drug trade in the city, describing them as Chadha's blue-eyed boys.[54]

These explosive claims have ignited a political firestorm in Punjab, with opposition parties demanding a thorough investigation. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar termed the revelations as "incriminating and damning," urging the Election Commission to take cognizance and initiate a probe into Chadha's alleged role in patronizing the drug mafia.[55]

In response to the controversy, the AAP suspended Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from the party for five years, citing anti-party activities.[56]

In May 2023, media reports emerged that Chadha's name was mentioned in Enforcement Directorate's (ED) second supplementary chargesheet in the money laundering case pertaining to the 2022 Delhi liquor policy case. Chadha immediately held a press conference in New Delhi to strongly refute the claims, calling the media reports “factually wrong” and part of a “propaganda” to harm his reputation and credibility.[57][58][59][60][61]

Electoral performance

This section is transcluded from South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. (edit | history)
2019 Indian general elections: South Delhi
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Ramesh Bidhuri 687,014 56.58 Increase11.41
AAP Raghav Chadha 3,19,971 26.35 Decrease9.12
INC Vijender Singh 1,64,613 13.56 Increase2.20
NOTA None of the Above 5,264 0.43 Increase0.07
Majority 3,67,043 30.23 Increase20.53
Turnout 12,14,545 58.75 Decrease4.22
BJP hold Swing Increase11.41
This section is transcluded from Rajinder Nagar Assembly constituency. (edit | history)
Delhi Assembly elections, 2020: Rajinder Nagar
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
AAP Raghav Chadha 59,135 57.06 +3.67
BJP R. P. Singh 39,077 37.70 +1.76
INC Rocky Tuseed 3,941 3.80 −4.00
NOTA None of the above 467 0.45 +0.04
Majority 20,058 19.36 +1.91
Turnout 1,03,675 58.50 −9.80
Registered electors 1,77,867
AAP hold Swing +3.67


References

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  2. ^ "PRESS RELEASE DELHI JAL BOARD" (PDF). www.delhijalboard.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2022.
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  9. ^ "Raghav Chadha Officially Elected To Rajya Sabha As MP". NDTV.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Delhi's water supply situation to improve soon: Jal Board VC Raghav Chadha". LiveMint. Press Trust of India. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
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  13. ^ "School debate champ, AAP spokesperson & now Rajya Sabha MP: Tracing the rise of Raghav Chadha". ThePrint. 26 March 2022.
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  15. ^ "AAP's Raghav Chadha made Punjab unit's co-incharge".
  16. ^ "Sacked AAP adviser Raghav Chadha refunds Rs 2.5 salary to home ministry". Business Standard India. 18 April 2018 – via Business Standard.
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  40. ^ "Raghav Chadha Beaten In Secret Mansion? Big Claim by Ex-AAP Leader Naveen Jaihind; Alleges 'Money Extortion'". Times Now. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  41. ^ "'Murga Banake Pita Tha': Former AAP Leader Naveen Jaihind Claims Raghav Chadha Was Beaten At Arvind Kejriwal's Residence". Free Press Journal.
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  43. ^ "दावा- राघव चड्ढा को केजरीवाल के घर मुर्गा बनाकर पीटा:हरियाणा AAP पूर्व अध्यक्ष बोले- पंजाब से पैसा इकट्‌ठा करने भेजा, इसी पर झगड़ा हुआ". Dainik Bhaskar.
  44. ^ https://sansad.in/rs/members
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  48. ^ "It's a boy! Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha welcome their first child together". The Times of India. 19 October 2025. Archived from the original on 19 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  49. ^ "Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha reveal the name of their baby boy, share first pics". Hindustan Times. 19 November 2025. Archived from the original on 19 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
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  51. ^ ANI News (8 August 2023). ""May have forged..." 5 Rajya Sabha MPs demand Privilege Motion against AAP MP Raghav Chadha". ANI News.
  52. ^ "On Amit Shah's Fraud Claim Against AAP Motion, Raghav Chadha Said".
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  54. ^ Sethi, Chitleen K. (20 April 2024). "Cops linked to Raghav Chadha 'supporting drug trade' — AAP MLA's accusations spark firestorm in Punjab". ThePrint. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  55. ^ "Probe Raghav Chadha's role in patronising drug mafia: Punjab BJP chief - www.lokmattimes.com". Lokmat Times. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
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  60. ^ "Delhi excise policy case: Raghav Chadha named in ED supplementary chargesheet". Awaz. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  61. ^ "Raghav Chadha's name mentioned in ED's Delhi excise policy chargesheet; AAP MP reacts". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 April 2026.

Further reading

  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Raghav Chadha at Wikimedia Commons