New Delhi: A new discussion started after former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia was appointed as Punjab in-charge on Friday. It was claimed on social media that Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has been removed from the post of Punjab in-charge and Manish Sisodia has been appointed in his place.
The post also said, "Aam Aadmi Party has removed Raghav Chadha from the post of Punjab in-charge. Former MLA Manish Sisodia, accused in the liquor scam, has been appointed as the new in-charge of Punjab."
AAP leaders deny the claim
However, party sources and observers who keep a close watch on Punjab politics have denied the news. They clarified that there is no question of Raghav Chadha being removed from the post of Punjab in-charge. Raghav Chadha, after becoming the co-in-charge of Punjab in December 2020, resigned from the role after the AAP government was formed in the state in 2022.
Raghav was made co-in-charge of Punjab in 2022
He was then appointed as an advisor in the government of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In December 2022, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal congratulated Raghav Chadha on being appointed as the co-in-charge of the party unit of Punjab. Kejriwal had then tweeted, "Congratulations and best wishes to Raghav Chadha on being appointed as the co-in-charge of Punjab." After the AAP came to power, Raghav was given a different role in 2022.
Made chairman of state government advisory committee
After this appointment, the party had clarified Raghav Chadha's role, and issued a statement stating that he has been appointed to oversee the public-friendly initiatives of the AAP government in Punjab and advise the government on matters of finance. The statement read, "Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has appointed Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha as chairman of the state government advisory committee. He will oversee the conceptualization and implementation of public-friendly initiatives of the AAP government in Punjab and advise the government on matters of finance."
What clarification did the party give regarding Raghav Chadha?
It was also reported that there was no question of Raghav Chadha being removed from the post of Punjab in-charge. Instead, Jarnail Singh who was holding the post has now been replaced by Manish Sisodia as Punjab in-charge. The decision was part of a strategic effort by the AAP to strengthen its organisational structure. The party is focusing on rebuilding its base for future elections, especially after its poor performance in the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.
AAP made several changes
The reshuffle included several key changes. Former Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was appointed the new chief of the AAP's Delhi unit, while Manish Sisodia was given the command of the Punjab unit. Apart from this, Gopal Rai was appointed in-charge of the Gujarat unit to strengthen the party's position in Gujarat. These leadership changes have come at a time when the party is trying to strengthen its position in the crucial elections to be held in the next few years. The party is now focusing on strengthening its hold in states like Gujarat, Punjab, Goa and Chhattisgarh.
