Raghav Chadha’s biography — youngest Rajya Sabha MP, CA-turned-politician and public figure. Read on for his early life in New Delhi, education as a Chartered Accountant, rise in the Aam Aadmi Party, high-profile marriage and the April 2026 switch to the BJP.

Raghav Chadha is an Indian politician and chartered accountant from New Delhi who rose through the Aam Aadmi Party to become, in 2022, the youngest Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Trained as a CA, he became a prominent, data-driven party spokesperson and a recognisable leader in national debates on finance and governance.

His public profile broadened after his marriage to actress Parineeti Chopra in September 2023. More recently, in April 2026, he was reported to have left the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party — a development that has significantly reframed his political trajectory and prompted widespread commentary in Indian politics.

Quick Facts About Raghav Chadha

Key details at a glance (dates in British English).

Early Life and Family Background

Raghav Chadha was born on 11 November 1988 in Central Delhi. He grew up in a middle-class household; his father, Sunil Chadha, worked in business and his mother, Alka Chadha, managed the home. Early exposure to everyday civic problems in New Delhi — irregular water supply, air pollution and gaps in public accountability — shaped his interest in public policy and governance.

At school — Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi — classmates and teachers recall a pupil comfortable with numbers and public speaking. That combination of analytical skill and rhetorical strength would later define his public role as a spokesperson and finance-focused politico.

Education: From Modern School to Chartered Accountant

Chadha completed his schooling at Modern School and read commerce at the University of Delhi, earning a Bachelor of Commerce in 2009. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in 2011, after which he worked in the accountancy profession.

He gained professional experience with firms such as Deloitte and Grant Thornton before moving full‑time into politics. Chadha also pursued further study in London, adding an international policy perspective to his financial training. (Where claims such as tax rankings are cited, ensure they are supported by verifiable sources before publication.)

Early Political Career: The AAP Years

Raghav Chadha joined the Aam Aadmi Party soon after its formation and was quickly entrusted with substantive work. Under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership he assisted in drafting the Delhi Lokpal Bill in 2012 — one of his first public-policy assignments — and established a reputation as a data‑focused, composed spokesperson. He rose to become one of the party’s youngest national spokespeople, combining financial expertise with public advocacy.

After AAP’s decisive victory in the 2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, Chadha — then 26 — was appointed national treasurer. The role placed him at the centre of the party’s financial management and reinforced his image as a technocrat within a movement built on claims of clean governance and administrative reform.

In 2019, Chadha took on national electoral politics as a candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the South Delhi constituency. He lost to the BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri in a contest in a seat long considered a BJP stronghold, but the campaign raised his profile beyond Delhi.

MLA, Delhi Jal Board and the Punjab Landslide

In the February 2020 Delhi Assembly elections Chadha stood from Rajinder Nagar and won convincingly, defeating the BJP candidate R.P. Singh by a margin reported at 20,058 votes and polling roughly 57% of the vote. The victory strengthened his standing within the party and led to his appointment as Vice Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board, where he worked on initiatives for continuous piped water supply and Yamuna clean-up efforts.

Chadha’s most notable organisational contribution came in 2022, when he was appointed co‑in‑charge of AAP’s Punjab campaign. The party won 92 of 117 seats in the Punjab Legislative Assembly election — a landslide that established AAP as the state’s dominant force and which Chadha is widely credited with helping to deliver through strategy and coordination.

Youngest Rajya Sabha MP in Indian History

On 21 March 2022 the Aam Aadmi Party announced the nomination of Raghav Chadha and four others to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab; their elections were uncontested and their six‑year terms began in 2022. At 33, Chadha became the youngest member elected to the Rajya Sabha, a milestone noted across Indian political reporting.

In Parliament he was appointed to the Rajya Sabha Standing Committee on Finance — the body that scrutinises financial legislation and budgetary matters across central ministries and agencies such as the NITI Aayog. Chadha’s training as a chartered accountant was frequently referenced as a reason for the appointment; it gave him a formal platform to contribute to fiscal and economic policy discussions.

Personal Life: Marriage to Parineeti Chopra

Raghav Chadha became engaged to actress Parineeti Chopra on 13 May 2023 at Kapurthala House in New Delhi. The couple married on 24 September 2023 at The Leela Palace, Udaipur, in a widely covered ceremony attended by political figures, film personalities and business leaders. In October 2025 they announced the birth of their son, Neer (born 19 October 2025). Chadha has generally kept family matters out of parliamentary debate, maintaining a clear boundary between public office and private life.

Eye Surgery and Rajya Sabha Suspension

In 2024 Chadha travelled to London for a vitrectomy; his extended absence from Parliament prompted questions, and party colleagues such as Saurabh Bhardwaj publicly said the operation was necessary to prevent potential further vision loss. These medical details are based on public statements and should be treated accordingly.

Separately, in August 2023 Chadha was embroiled in a parliamentary privilege controversy. On 8 August 2023 five MPs alleged their names had been included without consent on a motion related to sending the Delhi NCR Amendment Bill to a select committee; they accused Chadha of forgery and breach of privilege. On 11 August 2023 the Rajya Sabha suspended him for what the House described as a gross violation of rules. The episode remained politically contentious, with AAP calling the action politically motivated and opponents citing procedural misconduct. Where names, dates and formal findings are referenced, include direct citations to Rajya Sabha proceedings or committee reports when publishing.

Awards and International Recognition

Chadha’s profile has attracted recognition beyond India. In 2022 the World Economic Forum listed him among its Young Global Leaders — an initiative that highlights individuals under 40 deemed to have significant potential to shape global, regional or industry agendas. In January 2023 he received an India–UK Outstanding Achievers honour in London and has been acknowledged at public-facing events, including fashion awards where he was recognised as a style figure on more than one occasion. Where these honours are cited in publication, link to the awarding organisations or notices to verify the details.

The 2026 Defection: From AAP to BJP

On 24 April 2026 Raghav Chadha was reported to have left the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, along with a group of AAP Rajya Sabha members. Media coverage described the event as a significant blow to AAP; Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders issued public condemnations. For accuracy, cite official party statements or credible media reports when naming the full list of MPs involved.

According to reports, the group used the merger provisions under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution to avoid disqualification under anti‑defection rules by moving with a sufficient portion of the legislative party. The legal and political mechanics of the merger — and the names of MPs who joined — should be verified against official notices in the Rajya Sabha and statements by the Election Commission or relevant party offices before publication.

Controversies

Raghav Chadha’s public career has included several high-profile controversies. In May 2023 media reports stated his name appeared in the Enforcement Directorate’s second supplementary chargesheet linked to the 2022 Delhi liquor policy money‑laundering investigation; there has been no conviction and Chadha has denied wrongdoing. When referencing legal matters, cite the ED filings or authoritative reporting to avoid ambiguity.

In April 2024 a political opponent, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, alleged at a rally in Amritsar that Chadha had ties to at least two Punjab Police officers purportedly linked to the drug trade; those allegations were not established in court. Such claims contributed to heightened scrutiny of Chadha in the lead-up to his later party change; where allegations are reported, make clear whether they remain unproven or subject to investigation.

Net Worth

According to Chadha’s 2022 election affidavit filed with the Election Commission of India, his declared net worth was approximately ₹37–50 lakhs, comprising residential property, jewellery and financial investments. The affidavit is the primary source for declared assets and liabilities; link to the Election Commission record when publishing these figures for verification.

In Summary

Raghav Chadha’s trajectory — from a chartered accountant in New Delhi to an AAP founding member, youngest Rajya Sabha MP and, most recently, a reported defector to the BJP — has been rapid and occasionally controversial. His blend of financial expertise and political organising has been central to his rise, notably in AAP’s 2022 Punjab victory; his April 2026 party switch will influence how that legacy is judged in coming years.

For journalists and readers, a reminder: where accusations or legal matters are referenced, rely on primary documents (ED chargesheets, Election Commission affidavits, Rajya Sabha notices) or reputable reporting and state clearly whether allegations remain outstanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who is Raghav Chadha?

Raghav Chadha is a politician and chartered accountant born on 11 November 1988 in New Delhi. He served as an AAP leader and spokesperson, won the Rajinder Nagar assembly seat in February 2020, and was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2022. In April 2026 he was reported to have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Q2: How old is Raghav Chadha in 2026?

He is 37 years old in 2026 (born 11 November 1988). He became the youngest Rajya Sabha member when elected in 2022 at age 33.

Q3: What is Raghav Chadha’s net worth?

His 2022 election affidavit declared assets in the range of approximately ₹37–50 lakhs. For exact figures consult the Election Commission’s published affidavit.