Ashok Mittal AAP Resign with Raghav Chadda: Big blow to AAP after Raghav Chadda, Ashok Mittal, who was made the deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, also left the party. Discussion intensifies about 7 MPs joining BJP. Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann gave sharp reaction.
Ashok Mittal Joins BJP: A major political earthquake was seen in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday. After the announcement of Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha leaving the party and joining Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), now the most shocking name has come to the fore – Ashok Mittal. Ashok Mittal is the same leader whom Arvind Kejriwal made the deputy leader of AAP in Rajya Sabha on 2 April 2026 by replacing Raghav Chadha. But now after just a few days, he has also left the party and is preparing to join BJP with Raghav Chadha. This development has raised serious questions on the internal politics and leadership of AAP.
Got the responsibility 15 days ago, now left the party
On April 2, 2026, Aam Aadmi Party had officially sent a letter to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat informing about the removal of Raghav Chadha from the post of Deputy Leader and appointing Ashok Mittal in his place. By the evening of the same day, this change was also registered on the Rajya Sabha website. In political circles, this was seen as a sign of reducing the role of Raghav Chadha and changing the balance of power within the party. But Ashok Mittal leaving the party after just 15 days became a bigger blow for AAP.
Also read: Who are those 7 MPs who will join BJP with Raghav Chadha? See the full list
Who is Ashok Mittal?
Ashok Mittal is a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and the founder and chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU), a renowned educational institution of the country. He has a strong identity in education and industry. AAP had made a strategy to strengthen its political hold in Punjab by sending him to Rajya Sabha. Now his leaving the party can directly affect the politics of Punjab.
Discussions intensified after ED raid
On April 15, 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the premises of Ashok Mittal. This action was taken as part of an investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
ED raided his residence in Jalandhar, LPU campus and other places. This action lasted for about three days and ended on 17 April. Since then, discussions had intensified in political circles that something big was going to happen within the party. Now the news of his leaving AAP on April 24 further strengthened those discussions.
7 AAP MPs left the party
According to reports, till now a total of 7 Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP have left the party or are in the process of joining BJP. These names are said to include Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajendra Gupta, Sandeep Pathak and Vikramjit Sahni. If this merger takes formal form, it will have a major impact on AAP’s position in the Rajya Sabha.
Kejriwal said, BJP betrayed Punjabis
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal reacted sharply to this entire incident. He said that BJP has once again betrayed Punjabis. His indication was clear that BJP is trying to influence the politics of the state by getting the leaders associated with Punjab on its side.
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Bhagwant Mann said, those who went are traitors
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also gave a strong statement on this issue. He termed the leaders who left the party as “traitors”. Bhagwant Mann said that BJP has always had problems with Punjab and Punjabis. First the RDF was stopped, then the MLAs were targeted and now Punjab has been stabbed in the back by taking MPs into its fold. He said that BJP has no support base of its own in Punjab, hence it is trying to break the support base of AAP.
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The biggest political crisis for AAP?
The departure of big faces like Raghav Chadha and Ashok Mittal together is not only being considered a political loss for AAP but also an organizational crisis. If the leader who was removed and given new responsibility leaves the party, then it is a clear indication that there is deep dissatisfaction within. Now the biggest question is, is this just the beginning, or are more big names going to come out within AAP?
Also read: Raghav will join BJP, can also become a minister! Kejriwal’s first reaction increased the stir