From questioning Modi to cherishing his ‘guidance’: Raghav Chadha meets PM

Chandigarh: Raghav Chadha met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday and described the meeting as a “detailed and enriching interaction”, thanking Modi for his “insights and guidance”.

“A morning I will cherish. Had the privilege of meeting Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. A detailed and enriching interaction. Deeply grateful for his generous time and for the opportunity to benefit from his insights and guidance,” Chadha wrote on X after the meeting.

The warm description of the meeting comes after a major change in Chadha’s political alignment. He moved from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in April 2026, along with six other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs.

The shift is particularly notable given Chadha’s earlier role as an Opposition politician. As an AAP Rajya Sabha MP, he regularly challenged the BJP-led government in Parliament and was known for raising questions on government policies and decisions.

Today, he sits on the treasury benches and has himself acknowledged that his parliamentary role has changed.

From Opposition questions to ‘solutions’

Chadha recently faced questions over his decision not to speak publicly on the NEET paper leak controversy.

Explaining the change, he said his responsibility was different now that he was no longer in the Opposition.

“When I used to sit in the opposition, then the question was my weapon; today I sit on the treasury benches, today the solution is my responsibility,” Chadha said in the Rajya Sabha.

He added that while his earlier role was to raise questions and highlight issues, his focus now was on finding solutions rather than appearing before cameras.

“When I was in the opposition, my job was to raise issues and raise questions... But today my role is not to mark attendance in front of the camera; my focus is to fix the system,” he said.

The comments provide Chadha’s own explanation for the change in his public political role following his move to the BJP.

A political journey that has changed direction

Chadha’s political trajectory has undergone a significant change since his rise within the AAP.

He became one of the party’s prominent young leaders and served as an AAP Rajya Sabha MP. His political identity was closely associated with the party’s Opposition campaign against the BJP-led government.

That changed in April 2026 when Chadha joined the BJP. He also led the exit of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs to the BJP, including Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, according to reports.

His latest meeting with Modi therefore carries an obvious political contrast. The politician who once used Parliament to question the government is now publicly thanking the Prime Minister for his “guidance”.

There is no need to speculate about whether Chadha’s personal political beliefs have changed. His party affiliation has changed, and his own comments make clear that he sees his parliamentary responsibilities differently after the switch.

New role in Rajya Sabha

Chadha has also received a new parliamentary responsibility following the reconstitution of Rajya Sabha committees. He was appointed chairman of the Committee on Petitions, with the new committee structure coming into effect on May 20.

The position gives Chadha a formal role in Parliament at a time when his political transition from AAP to BJP is drawing attention.

Punjab factor

The meeting also comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, making Chadha’s future political role in the state significant.

Before joining the BJP, Chadha was one of the most recognisable AAP figures associated with Punjab politics. His move to the BJP has therefore changed the political context in which his activities in the state will be viewed.

Political sources cited in reports have indicated that Chadha could become increasingly active in Punjab as the BJP prepares for the 2027 election.

Whether that translates into a larger organisational or electoral role remains to be seen. For now, his meeting with Modi adds another chapter to a political journey that has moved from being an Opposition voice against the BJP to working from within the BJP’s parliamentary ranks.