On Thursday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) removed MP Raghav Chadha from the post of Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. This position has been handed over to Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal in his stead. The party conveyed this information to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat through a letter.
The letter stated that no time should be allotted to him to speak on behalf of the party in the House. Raghav has been a Rajya Sabha MP representing Punjab since 2022. His tenure extends until 2028.
The party has not disclosed the reason behind this decision. However, he had distanced himself from the party for a considerable period and had ceased issuing any statements regarding the AAP.
Even on February 27, when Arvind Kejriwal received relief from a lower court in the Delhi liquor policy case, Raghav did not issue any statement. In the Rajya Sabha as well, he had been raising issues such as the plight of gig workers and school fees.
Ashok Mittal is also an AAP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab. He hails from Jalandhar. He is the Founder and Chancellor of Lovely Professional University in Punjab. He became a Rajya Sabha MP in 2022. Prior to entering politics, he was a successful businessman. His family owns the 'Lovely Group,' which is involved in the automobile and confectionery (Lovely Sweets) sectors.
In the last two parliamentary sessions, Raghav raised issues concerning the common people:
**Winter Session 2025**
**Issue of Gig Workers:** Highlighted the low wages, the 10-minute delivery model, and the lack of social security for delivery partners associated with platforms like Blinkit, Zomato, and Swiggy.
**Digital Content Creators:** Demanded amendments to the Copyright Act, 1957, to protect educators and influencers from adverse algorithms and wrongful 'takedowns.'
**Health Sector:** Advocated for a policy of 'One Nation, One Health Treatment' and expressed concern over the deteriorating state of private hospitals.
**Budget Session 2026**
**Food Adulteration:** Raised the issue of urea and other forms of adulteration in food products in the Rajya Sabha. Affordable Airport Food: To ensure passengers have access to affordable meals at airports, a demand was raised for the establishment of budget-friendly cafes in the departure areas of all 150+ airports.
28-Day Recharge Cycle: Mobile recharge validity periods should cover a full calendar month (30 or 31 days) instead of the current 28-day cycle, with any unused data carrying over to the following month.
Bank Penalties: A proposal was put forward to completely abolish penalties imposed for failing to maintain a minimum account balance.
Joint Income Tax Filing: Married couples should be provided with the option to file their income tax returns jointly.
Paternity Leave: Paternity leave should be established as a statutory right in India.
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