Did AAP's Raghav Chadha just hint at floating Gen-Z party?

Amid reports of a rift between Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and his party leadership, many have been waiting for the chartered accountant-turned-politician's next move.

While speculation did the rounds, Chadha on Wednesday shared an Instagram Reel by a creator called, "Seedhathok", where the latter had suggested that he float a youth-driven "Gen-Z" political party.

"Interesting thought," wrote Chadha, sharing the Reel on his Instagram story.

In the Instagram Reel, the creator behind the "Seedhathok" handle, Rihan said, "Every adult and youngster wants Raghav Chadha to form his own political party, despite ongoing differences, under the name Gen-Z Party or any name he finds suitable".

"If he joins another party, whichever it may be, he might not get the same level of support he has now or maybe, he might actually get some hate. However, starting his own party would be a good decision. The entire youth will back him, leading to decisive success. Thank you," Rihan added in the Reel.

The Reel on the handle with over 1.1 million followers, has so far garnered 48,000 likes and almost a thousand comments. The Reel by "Seedhathok" has been viewed over times.

AAP LEADERSHIP VS RAGHAV CHADHA AFTER MP WAS EXPELLED AS PARTY DEPUTY CHAIR IN RAJYA SABHA

Last week, the AAP expelled Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. In the letter to the Upper House's Secretariat, the AAP said Chadha would be replaced by MP Ashok Kumar Mittal. The move by the AAP leadership followed reports of a rift between Chadha and party convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Following the expulsion, Chadha reacted by saying that he had been "silenced, not defeated". The AAP accused Chadha of avoiding Punjab's issues in Parliament and instead indulging in "soft PR". Soon, scores of AAP leaders, including MP Sanjay Singh, former Delhi CM Atishi, former Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj targetted Chadha, alleging he was afraid to speak against PM Narendra Modi, and had wasted his time discussing samosas instead of pressing national issues.

"Why are you so afraid of the BJP? Why are you afraid of questioning PM Narendra Modi?" asked AAP leader and former Delhi CM Atishi.

Chadha's critics pointed out that he hadn't been vociferous on issues that were at the core of the AAP's politics and interests. When party convenor Kejriwal was arrested, and the party was going through its worst phase, Chadha was in the UK for eye surgery. They also pointed to Chadha's absence at the recent "Jan Sabha" at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, which was the first public address of Kejriwal following his release from jail.

Reacting to the criticisms and allegations, Chadha responded by saying, "Picture abhi baaki hai".

"To my colleagues in AAP who were forced to issue videos saying that 'Raghav Chadha failed to raise Punjab's issues in Parliament', here is a small trailer... Picture Abhi Baaki Hai. Punjab isn't a talking point for me. It is my home, my duty, my soil, my soul," Chadha was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Chadha highlighted the various issues he raised as an MP, including advocating for the Nankana Sahib corridor, legal guarantees for farmers, addressing the groundwater problem in Punjab, and recommending Bharat Ratna recognition for Bhagat Singh.

While Chadha tried to counter the allegations made by his party colleagues, since becoming a Member of Parliament, the 37-year-old leader had garnered significant praise from the young people for taking up the issue of student debt relief. This made Chadha Gen Z's favourite MP.

Chadha's Rajya Sabha speeches repeatedly viral on the internet where he raised public issues. He raised issues, like the ordeal of gig workers, financial reforms, menstrual health, the recharge trick used by telecom companies, and others. For instance, in the ongoing Parliamentary Budget Session, Chadha called for paternity leave to be recognised as a legal right in India, framing it as an issue of shared caregiving.

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