AAP Pizza-Samose Controversy: Bhagwant Mann, Raghav Chadha and Atishi in Row

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has removed Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha from his position as the party’s deputy leader in the Upper House, a move followed by public accusations from senior leadership that the MP has become compromised.

On April 3, 2026, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed the party’s stance, stating that Chadha was compromised while speaking to the media. The removal took place on April 2, 2026, sparking a public dispute between the MP and the party leadership.

Allegations of Party Line Violation

Chief Minister Mann detailed several instances where he claimed Chadha failed to adhere to the party whip and ignored critical issues where the AAP had taken a clear stand. Mann questioned why Chadha did not walk out on important issues or raise his voice regarding the deletion of votes in West Bengal.

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Mann further criticized Chadha for failing to address the registration of 160 FIRs against AAP leaders and volunteers by the Gujarat government, which Mann described as an attempt to spread hatred based on religion and caste in Punjab. Other omitted issues cited by the Chief Minister included the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the withholding of Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF).

Mann contrasted these political failures with Chadha’s focus on minor grievances, asking if raising the issue of samosas being sold at a higher price at the airport and requesting that pizza should be delivered in 40 minutes instead of 30 constituted a violation of the party whip.

Mann suggested that these priorities indicated Chadha was speaking from a different station, necessitating disciplinary action. However, he downplayed the administrative nature of the removal, noting that a change in the parliamentary board of a party is not a big deal.

Internal Rift and the CEC Motion

Other senior AAP leaders have also targeted Chadha, focusing on his perceived reluctance to confront the central government. AAP leader Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj referenced an impeachment motion submitted by Opposition parties against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament in March 2026.

Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that Chadha refused to sign the motion. The motion against Gyanesh Kumar was based on allegations that the Chief Election Commissioner was biased in favor of the BJP-led NDA ruling at the Centre.

Atishi directly questioned Chadha’s motivations in a video, asking, Why are you so afraid of the BJP? Why are you afraid of questioning PM Narendra Modi?

Atishi further alleged that elections in West Bengal were being stolen and that votes in Delhi had been cut in a wrong manner by the BJP, asserting that Chadha remained afraid to speak on these matters.

Party Reactions and Current Status

The internal friction has manifested in sharp rhetoric from various party members. AAP leader Anurag Dhanda issued a salvo directed at Chadha, suggesting the MP must either struggle to save the nation or push to make samosas cheaper.

The dispute marks a significant shift for Chadha, who was previously regarded as the party’s boy wonder. Despite his removal from the deputy leadership role, Chadha still has two years remaining in his Rajya Sabha tenure.

The conflict appears to stem from a broader drift between Chadha and the party’s core leadership, spanning political losses in Delhi and ongoing governance issues in Punjab.