03 May,2026 08:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Ananya Tomcy
MP Raghav Chadha left the AAP with six other MPs jo join the BJP on April 24. FILE PIC/PTI
What did you think of Raghav Chadha before his exit from AAP?
Zidaan Castellino (ZC): Raghavji went and experienced one day as a gig worker, which I thought was impressive. At the end of the day, people must know that there is at least one politician in this country that can be held accountable and that knows citizens' suffering.
Aarav Garg (AG): He was definitely not one of my favourite politicians out there. When you have a stage as big as the Rajya Sabha, I don't think you should waste valuable speaking time there complaining about airport food prices or mobile data. Sure, those are issues, but there are bigger issues raging on in this country. For example, in Bundelkhand right now, tribals are protesting really hard against a river link project which will ruin their homes and farmlands.
Actor Parineeti Chopra, who is married to Raghav Chadha, has been trolled for the MPs actions. FILE PIC
Yukta Mehta (YM): Well, for me, Raghav Chadha, should use his platform to speak about issues that resonate more with younger generations, like job security and internships. Job scarcity is the biggest issue.
How did you feel about his move towards the BJP?
YM: The move was very predictable because of the issues he has been raising for the past two-three months. I feel like it's a fair decision. He followed the rules and took two-thirds from his party to the BJP. It's a career longevity move. I think because of the kind of politician he is, he will still be able to work - like he has till now - within the BJP as well. I've also heard people say that Raghav Chadha has entered a washing machine party and [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi is the washing powder, basically.
ZC: If you use your power correctly, whether you are in the ruling party or the Opposition, you can make a very big difference. He still has a seat in the Rajya Sabha, and that comes with power. I can only hope that he will use that power beyond just party protocol and continue to work for the public.
AG: It was not surprising at all; I think he had been thinking of shifting to BJP for a while now. When the entire AAP senior leadership was being put in jail, he very conveniently found time to go to London while his entire party was up in flames. That was the first red flag. What's funny is in 2022, Raghav Chadha had introduced a Bill in the Rajya Sabha proposing to strengthen India's anti-defection laws. He sought to raise the threshold for a valid party "merger" from two-thirds to three-fourth of legislators. I think he should be glad that he was in the Opposition then and his proposal didn't pass, otherwise he would still be stuck in AAP.
What do you think of Raghav Chadha's social media game?
ZC: If you're not going to use social media to reach out to the public, but for self-promotion then it doesn't matters. He has been reaching people through social media and if he continues to do so, it can make a very big difference.
YM: Every politician, before announcing any kind of big decision, makes a big splash on Instagram. Social media matters if one wants to connect with the youth. Raghav Chadha has been hitting all the points that young people care about and trying to gain the youth's favour before his big move. That's why he was trying to go big on social media.
AG: In Indian politics, more than your social media presence, you need to have on-ground presence. I don't think you'll win in India based on Reels. You'll win in India based on padyatras, huge rallies, and processions, because that's where real voters lie. I don't think his Instagram is particularly useful for actual voters, for people such as sweepers, sewage cleaners, farmers, labourers.
Why do you think he connected with young people?
ZC: Because, for the first time, we've seen a politician in the Rajya Sabha who is actually talking some sense. There is someone who isn't talking about, âYou are orange and I am green, and blue, and white'. Nobody else is fighting for so many issues which get missed out easily. He brought up gig workers. So, when the youth in India see a politician that talks even a little bit of sense, it is a breath of fresh air.
AG: India has a serious lack of youth leaders. We consider elders to be the main depository of knowledge. Even Rahul Gandhi, who was the face of youth politics, was harassed when he was young. He's still being harassed, even though he's older than the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh [Yogi Adityanath]. Raghav Chadha was a recognisable young face, so that's why young people like him.
YM: Adding to Aarav's point, young people are just labelled âinexperienced' in India. No one takes us seriously. So when we see someone talk about airport food prices, which is something that affects me directly, I see myself being taken seriously.
What do you say to those who say he could be the next Prime Minister?
AG: He's not radical or popular enough on ground. He's not a vote puller per se. Politicians like, say, Yogi [Adityanath] - no matter what my opinion may be of him - will garner attention simply because of his charisma. We've also had leaders like Bal Thackeray, Sharad Pawar. These were people who could be prime ministers, because they had an on-ground presence. I'm not sure if I can say the same for Raghav Chadda.
YM: Switching to BJP is the smartest move to become PM. Maybe in the 2029 elections, we'll see Raghav Chadda as the PM. Or he could be a cabinet minister. [sarcastically] Maybe they can start a new Ministry of Influencers or a specialised department for youth engagement for him.
