A day after triggering a major political upheaval in Delhi by resigning from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha appears to be facing an unexpected digital backlash, particularly from young voters.
While political defections often reshape party equations, this time the reaction unfolded dramatically on social media.
Massive drop in Instagram followers raises questions
In the era of online politics, follower counts often reflect public sentiment. Within 24 hours of announcing his move, Chadha’s Instagram following reportedly fell from 14.6 million to 13.5 million, a drop of nearly one million followers.
The sudden decline coincided with an online “unfollow” trend led largely by Gen Z users, many of whom had previously viewed him as one of the most relatable young political leaders in India.
NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande highlighted the development on social media, writing, "A viral Gen Z 'unfollow' campaign on Instagram has led to Raghav Chadha's followers dropping by 10 lakh in 24 hours." He added, "The internet can make you a hero overnight. The internet can also bring you down to zero overnight."
Political exit that shook AAP
Chadha’s exit from AAP came shortly after he was removed as the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, a development that had already fueled speculation about his political future.
His departure reportedly included several AAP Rajya Sabha MPs shifting allegiances alongside him, leaving the Aam Aadmi Party scrambling to stabilise its leadership structure under former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Though his move to the BJP had been anticipated in political circles, the intensity of the online reaction suggested that his youth support base was less prepared for the transition.
Why Gen Z once saw Chadha differently
Before the switch, Chadha had cultivated a strong following among younger Indians by raising issues rarely prioritised in mainstream political debate.
From advocating paternity leave and highlighting urban traffic concerns to questioning telecom data limits and even speaking about overpriced airport food, his parliamentary interventions often mirrored everyday frustrations of urban youth.
He also gained attention for working briefly as a Blinkit delivery partner to understand gig economy challenges firsthand. Soon after sustained debate around rapid delivery models, the Centre directed companies to remove mandatory 10-minute delivery deadlines, a move many supporters linked to pressure created by such discussions.
These actions helped position him as a politician who blended governance with real-life social media conversations.
Social media support turns into criticism
Ironically, the same digital audience that once amplified Chadha’s popularity is now driving criticism.
Political commentators noted a surge in “unfollow” comments on his Instagram posts, while the hashtag #unfollowRaghavChadha began trending across platforms. Observers believe many young supporters felt ideologically disconnected from his new political alignment, triggering a perception shift almost overnight.
