Eyeing the 2022 Punjab assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday appointed its senior leader and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha as the party’s state unit’s co-in-charge.
AAP’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement came a day after the party expanded its organizational base in Punjab by appointing 22 state, 168 district, 468 block, and 3,399 circle level office-bearers.
Chadha, thanking Kejriwal, said: “I would like to thank the Chief Minister for instilling such confidence in me. As co-in-charge of the party’s Punjab unit, I will give my blood and sweat to this position and hope to do my bit in furthering the party’s position in Punjab.”
In asserting the party’s position to make Punjab a state to reckon with, Chadha said: “Punjab is going through challenging times. Our focus in the State will be on education and prosperity. It pains me to see how the youth of Punjab is spoiling its future by getting sucked into the vicious cycle of drugs and unemployment.”
“Farmers have been facing severe problems as well. I take it as my personal responsibility to change these circumstances, and am certain the AAP in Punjab will succeed in making the State green, happy and prosperous,” he said.
A party’s spokesperson said that Chadha has a keen grasp on the ground issues of Punjab and ably put forward the party’s views on several important issues, including the current burning issue of the three farm bills. AAP is hopeful of Chadha’s immense organizational capability to carry forward the Party’s ideals in Punjab, added the spokesperson.
Spokesperson said that the ordinary citizen in Punjab is tired and angry with the BJP, Congress, and Akali Dal. “Each of these parties has together cheated innocent farmers. In such a precarious situation, the presence of Chadha is expected to increase AAP’s confidence manifold,” added the spokesperson.
As vice chairman of Delhi Jal Board, Chadha has also played an important role in delivering clean water to each house in Delhi.
Currently an MLA from Rajinder Nagar constituency, he has been with the party before its inception, and has been instrumental in drafting the Lokpal Bill as well.
He is not only AAP’s “youngest” national spokesperson but among the youngest spokesperson across parties.