Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha met President Droupadi Murmu on May 5, 2024, to accuse the Punjab government of pursuing vendetta politics [1].
This meeting highlights a deepening rift between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former members who have since joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The dispute centers on the alleged use of state resources to punish political defectors.
Chadha, an AAP leader who quit the party, said the Punjab government is misusing the state machinery to target former members [2]. He said the AAP-led administration is engaging in "dangerous vendetta politics" [2].
According to Chadha, the state government is targeting leaders who left AAP and joined the BJP as a form of retaliation [1]. He said he is among six MPs who have left the party [1].
In a related move, the Punjab government withdrew the Z-plus security cover for Chadha [3]. This level of protection is typically reserved for individuals facing high-level security threats. Following the revocation of state-provided security, there have been reports that Chadha may seek central protection instead [3].
The meeting took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi [2]. Chadha used the appointment with the president to formally raise concerns regarding the behavior of the state government in Punjab [2].
“AAP indulging in dangerous vendetta politics”
The withdrawal of Z-plus security and the subsequent appeal to the president suggest that the political transition of high-ranking officials from AAP to BJP is creating significant institutional friction in Punjab. This escalation indicates that the conflict has moved beyond political rhetoric into the administrative realm, where state security apparatuses are being used as leverage in party disputes.
