Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
On Friday evening (April 24) senior leader Raghav Chadha reportedly came under intense public criticism after news of his shift from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surfaced. The development triggered widespread reactions on social media, where users heavily trolled him across platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
His Instagram following dropped noticeably from approximately 14.6 million to 13.6 million, with reports citing a fall to 13.9 million or 14.3 million across different platforms.
According to online activity, thousands of users expressed their anger in the comment sections of his posts, using phrases like “Unfollow Raghav Chadha,” “Hero to Zero,” and even labeling him a “Punjab da Gaddar.” Reports suggest that around 1 lakh interactions on Instagram included trolling or negative reactions, while around 5,000 Facebook users allegedly participated in coordinated criticism or unfollow campaigns.
The backlash follows Chadha’s recent rise in popularity, largely attributed to his vocal stance on public issues and advocacy for common citizens. However, his sudden political move has reportedly left a section of the public disappointed and upset.
On the same day, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal were also reported to have joined the BJP alongside Chadha. During the announcement, Chadha is quoted as saying that two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha members are joining the BJP in accordance with constitutional provisions.