Raghav Chadha on Monday addressed the backlash following his decision to leave the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), outlining his reasons in a video shared on social media.
The caption of the video on Instagram reads, "To everyone who reached out with love and wishes, thank you. A few thoughts, straight from my heart."
Responds to criticism
Chadha said he had received a mix of support and questions after announcing his move. "For the past three days, I have been getting a lot of messages from all of you. Most of you are giving me best wishes and congratulating me, while some want to know the reasons behind my decision," he said in the video.
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He described his long association with AAP, noting that he had spent over a decade building the party. "I didn't come into politics to make my career. I became a founding member of a political party. I gave 15 years of my prime youth to this party with my blood, sweat, and a lot of hard work," he said.
'Toxic work environment' claim
In the video, Chadha criticised the current functioning of the party, saying it had changed significantly over time. "Today, this party is no longer the old party. Today, this party has a toxic work environment. You are stopped from working. You are stopped from speaking in the Parliament," he said.
He added that he increasingly felt out of place and described himself as "the right man, but in the wrong party". Chadha said he had considered multiple options before deciding to switch political platforms.
Decision not taken alone
Chadha also claimed that several colleagues had made a similar choice. "Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six—seven MPs have decided to break their relationship with this political party," Chadha said.
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He added, "One person can be wrong, two people can be wrong, but not seven people can be wrong."
Rejecting suggestions that the move was driven by pressure, he said, "We did not leave out of fear but because of disappointment, disenchantment, and disgust."
Social media backlash
The decision triggered strong reactions online. Within 24 hours of his announcement, Chadha reportedly lost over one million followers on Instagram, a figure that later rose to around two million. Several users criticised his switch, while past videos and statements resurfaced, adding to the debate.
Despite the criticism, Chadha said he would remain active in public life. "I will continue to raise your problems with more energy and enthusiasm."
