Raghav Chadha joins BJP, social media users hit unfollow button—10 lakh gone in 24 hours

On Friday, the 37-year-old Rajya Sabha MP reportedly had 14.6 million followers on Instagram. By 1 pm on Saturday, that number had dropped to 13.5 million, according to India Today. By 3:41 pm, his Instagram page showed his follower count had further declined to 13.3 million.

Chadha had emerged as one of AAP’s most prominent young faces in Parliament, often raising issues that directly impacted everyday life. From advocating for paternity leave and addressing urban traffic problems to questioning daily data limits imposed by telecom companies and even highlighting the high cost of samosas at airports, he built a strong connection with younger audiences.

He also drew attention for speaking against the exploitation of gig workers under 10-minute delivery models and even worked as a Blinkit delivery partner to highlight their struggles firsthand. His efforts were widely seen as instrumental in pushing delivery companies to remove mandatory 10-minute delivery deadlines.

Over the years, Chadha cultivated an image of being an accessible and relatable politician, especially among Gen Z, positioning himself as someone bridging the gap between traditional politics and youth aspirations.

In a major political development, Chadha and his Rajya Sabha replacement, Ashok Mittal, have now exited AAP together, announcing their decision to join the BJP along with several other MPs.

The move has drawn significant attention, as Mittal—who had replaced Chadha in a key parliamentary role—is now aligned with him in a coordinated departure that signals a major shift within AAP’s Rajya Sabha ranks.

Coordinated Exit by AAP MPs

At a press conference, Chadha stated that a group of AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha had decided to merge with the BJP by invoking constitutional provisions.

He said that more than two-thirds of the party’s members in the Upper House supported the move.

Alongside Chadha and Mittal, Sandeep Pathak also appeared at the briefing, confirming his decision to join the BJP.

Chadha further said that other MPs, including Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal, had extended their support to the move.