Politics · Parliament · Special Report — May 23, 2026
5 min read
- Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan reconstituted the Committee on Petitions effective May 20, 2026
- Raghav Chadha — who recently switched from AAP to BJP — named as the new Chairman
- The committee comprises 10 members in total, including Harsh Mahajan and Gulam Ali
- Chadha is a Chartered Accountant, London School of Economics alumnus, and husband of actress Parineeti Chopra
In a development that underscores just how dramatically the political landscape can shift, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha — until recently one of the Aam Aadmi Party’s most recognisable young faces — has been appointed Chairman of the Rajya Sabha’s Committee on Petitions under his new political home, the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The appointment, notified by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, took effect from May 20, 2026. A formal Rajya Sabha notification confirmed the reconstitution, stating that Chadha has been appointed Chairman of the Committee.
“Raghav Chadha has been appointed Chairman of the Committee.” Official Rajya Sabha Notification, May 20, 2026
What Does the Committee on Petitions Do?
The Committee on Petitions is one of the standing committees of the Rajya Sabha that examines petitions submitted by citizens on matters of public importance. When ordinary Indians feel unheard by government policy or legislation, this committee is one of the formal channels through which their voices can reach Parliament.The Chairman plays a central role — presiding over hearings, steering deliberations, and presenting the committee’s findings to the House. It is, in other words, a platform with real reach and real responsibility.
Full Committee Composition
| Role | Member |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Raghav Chadha |
| Member | Harsh Mahajan |
| Member | Gulam Ali |
| Member | Shambhu Sharan Patel |
| Member | Mayankkumar Nayak |
| Member | Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha |
| Member | Jebi Mather Hisham |
| Member | Subhasish Khuntia |
| Member | Rwngwra Narzary |
| Member | Sandosh Kumar P |
Who Is Raghav Chadha?
Born on November 11, 1988, in Central Delhi, Raghav Chadha is a Chartered Accountant by training, a graduate of Delhi University, and holds a degree from the London School of Economics. At 37, he is among the younger, more media-fluent politicians in the Upper House.
Joined Aam Aadmi Party in its early days
Elected to Delhi Legislative Assembly from Rajinder Nagar; also served as Vice Chairman of Delhi Jal Board
Elected to Rajya Sabha from Punjab on an AAP ticket
Married Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra in a high-profile ceremony
Switched to BJP; appointed Chairman of Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions
From AAP Suspension to Committee Chairman
The arc of Chadha’s career makes this appointment particularly striking. When he was with AAP, the Rajya Sabha Chairman at the time declined a request to recognise him as the party’s interim leader in the Upper House. Now, under a different chairman and a different party affiliation, he holds the gavel of a key standing committee.
What Happens Next?
The committee’s work begins now. Citizens’ petitions will come before it; hearings will be held; reports will be tabled in Parliament. Whether Chadha uses this platform to make a substantive mark — or whether the appointment remains primarily a symbolic acknowledgement of his defection — will become clear over the coming months.
Indian politics has always rewarded loyalty swiftly. What is less certain is whether the reward translates into lasting legacy. For Raghav Chadha, the chair is his. The question is what he does with it.
