Generational Shift Or Shrinking Space? Inside Congress & AAP's Dissent Problem

Last Updated:April 04, 2026, 13:53 IST

Both the voices expose the malaise in the functioning of the two parties, explaining exactly why they should not be dismissed

Two parties, both opponents, have ironically bonded over a similar problem—that of internal dissent.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha has hit back at his party for removing him as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and “silencing" him. Chadha has warned that he will storm back, even as a bulk of the AAP leadership called him a coward and accused him of being scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sailing in the same boat, on the other hand, is Anand Sharma. The Congress veteran took on his party on Thursday, saying the government had diplomatically taken the correct stand on the West Asia war and one should not criticise it as it was a tough time for India. This thumbs-up was seen as a boost for the BJP, which has been attacked by the Congress for being pliant and second to Pakistan, which is trying to mediate and resolve the conflict. The veteran leader also said the party’s stand should have been discussed in the meeting of the Congress Working Committee, the highest body of the Congress, before being made public.

Both the voices expose the malaise in the functioning of the two parties, explaining exactly why they should not be dismissed.

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Let’s take the Congress first. Sharma’s entry and rise in politics came with the bonhomie he shared with Rajiv Gandhi. This passed on to Sonia Gandhi, who relied on him. But the entry of Rahul Gandhi and the churning within Congress made the future of many senior Congress leaders uncertain. One sign of this was the G23, of which he was a part. Not just this, Sharma has written many letters to Sonia Gandhi directly, complaining that he has been insulted and that the party needs urgent reforms. In fact, post-electoral losses, both at the state level and the Centre, many panels set up to suggest reforms submitted their reports to the top brass but the recommendations lie unused.

Many seniors say that while it’s normal that some leaders are left out after a generational change, the way a contrarian view—different from that of Rahul Gandhi and his coterie—is no longer accepted is a sign of worry. This is also a deviation from the Sonia Gandhi style. The senior leader would listen to all and ensure that different points of view were reflected in the organisation. Not just this, many seniors say that earlier, if not Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmed Patel would hear them out, complaining that a similar channel of communication is lacking now. In fact, some seniors also said they would find it demeaning to communicate their issues with the present organisational set-up, as those handling matters are junior to them. With Sonia Gandhi taking a back seat, there is no one to listen to their grievances.

Now for the Aam Aadmi Party. There have been some big-ticket exits from the party, and most of them have been founding members like Ashutosh and Shazia Ilmi. Those who left have complained of a style similar to the Congress, where a small coterie has the say and ensures most others don’t get a chance to air their views and woes. The removal of Raghav Chadha is the prerogative of the party and they are justified in their complaint that he has stayed away from party commitments. But the timing of his removal and the taunt that he was “indulging in PR" have made the AAP, which is fighting for survival at the national level, look like a jealous party that cannot tolerate anyone becoming more popular than its chief Arvind Kejriwal.

ALSO READ | Silence, Absence Or More: Why AAP Removed Raghav Chadha As Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader

At a time when the AAP is working on creating and expanding its national footprint, using Chadha, who has gained traction by raising people’s issues, could have helped the party. The Chadha episode also shows that like the Congress, not all may be well in the AAP. As Kejriwal steps out to gain control of the narrative, there are murmurs of strained ties between him and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. There is also a complaint that a small coterie of yes-men is calling the shots, and the original AAP team is out, with no takers for them.

For both AAP and Congress, it’s a period of wait and watch. For now, reforms are on pause, and a lot will depend on the upcoming state polls.

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