Bhagwant Mann’s ‘Sabzi’ Jibe At Raghav Chadha, 6 Other MPs After BJP Switch | India News

Last Updated:April 25, 2026, 14:13 IST

Bhagwant Mann mocks seven AAP defectors with sabzi metaphor. BJP slams remark calling it “insult” to farmers.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann

Punjab Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann has sharply criticised Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, a day after the young leader from Punjab announced his decision to join the BJP. The development has deepened the political rift within the Aam Aadmi Party and triggered a war of words between leaders.

‘Sabzi’ remark sparks debate

Without naming Raghav Chadha or any of the defected MPs directly, Mann used a metaphor in a post written in Punjabi. He compared the seven MPs who left the party to cooking ingredients or masalas.

“Ginger, garlic, cumin, fenugreek powder, red chilli, black pepper, and coriander – these seven things together make a vegetable dish taste good, but on their own, they cannot become a dish,” Mann wrote in his X post.

The remark was a dig at the seven leaders who quit AAP together. However, the statement also drew criticism from the BJP.

BJP hits back at Mann

The BJP strongly objected to Mann’s comments, calling them disrespectful. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini criticised the Punjab leader, saying his remarks insult farmers who grow crops like ginger and garlic.

“He does nothing but crack jokes all day long. While this might entertain the public, it certainly won’t bring about any systemic change,” Saini said.

The exchange highlights how the political fallout from the defections is now spilling beyond party lines.

Raghav Chadha joins BJP

The controversy began when Raghav Chadha announced on Friday that he would leave AAP and join the BJP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs. This move effectively split two-thirds of AAP’s strength in the Upper House.

Chadha, who represents Punjab in the Rajya Sabha, made the announcement at a press conference. He was joined by fellow MPs Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak.

He also said that four more MPs – Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahney – supported the decision and would also join the BJP.

Corruption allegations against AAP

At the press conference, Chadha levelled serious allegations against his former party. The 37-year-old leader said corruption within AAP was the main reason behind his decision to leave.

“I gave the AAP 15 years of my life. Now the party has stepped away from honest politics. I am moving away and going close to the people. Today, the AAP is corrupt and compromised. It is not the old party. I don’t want to engage in the wrongdoings of AAP,” he said.

His remarks marked a strong public attack on the party he had long been associated with.

AAP calls it ‘betrayal’

AAP leaders reacted strongly to Chadha’s decision. The party described the move as a betrayal, particularly of the people of Punjab, who had elected him to the Rajya Sabha.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal responded with a brief but pointed statement. “The BJP has once again betrayed the Punjabis,” he said in a one-line post.

The split between Chadha and the AAP leadership had been visible for some time. Earlier this month, the party removed him from the post of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.

This decision brought internal differences into the open. The party also took the unusual step of asking the Rajya Sabha Chairman not to allocate speaking time to Chadha from AAP’s quota.

Chadha’s response

Raghav Chadha publicly challenged the party’s decisions through video messages. He described the actions against him as part of a “scripted campaign” and a “coordinated move”.

His response suggested that he believed the leadership was deliberately sidelining him. The tensions that had been building over time eventually led to his exit from the party.

The departure of Chadha and six other MPs marks a significant moment for AAP, particularly in the Rajya Sabha. Losing two-thirds of its members in the Upper House is a major organisational and political setback.

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