The appointment was made after Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan reconstituted the Committee on Petitions and nominated 10 members to the panel. Reports said the reconstituted panel will function with effect from May 20, 2026.

The development has drawn political attention because Chadha recently shifted from the Aam Aadmi Party to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Reports earlier said the Rajya Sabha Chairman had accepted the merger of seven AAP MPs, including Raghav Chadha, with the BJP in April 2026.

The Committee on Petitions is an important parliamentary panel of the Upper House. It examines petitions submitted by citizens and groups on matters of public importance, legislative concerns, policy issues, and grievances that fall within the scope of the Rajya Sabha. The committee can study such petitions and submit reports with observations or recommendations.

According to reports, the newly reconstituted committee includes members such as Harsh Mahajan, Gulam Ali, Shambhu Sharan Patel, Mayankkumar Nayak, Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha, Jebi Mather Hisham, Subhasish Khuntia, Rwngwra Narzary and Sandosh Kumar P.

Chadha’s appointment is being seen as politically notable for two reasons. First, it gives him an institutional role within the Rajya Sabha soon after his political shift. Second, it signals that the BJP may use his parliamentary experience in committee-based legislative work.

The appointment also comes after a period of political movement around Chadha. Last month, AAP had removed him as its Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha and replaced him with Ashok Mittal, a development that had triggered speculation about internal differences before his eventual move to the BJP.

For Chadha, the new role could offer a platform to rebuild his parliamentary positioning after a major political transition. As chairman of the petitions panel, he will be responsible for steering committee discussions, reviewing petitions, and guiding reports placed before the Upper House.

The Committee on Petitions may not always remain in the public spotlight like major political debates, but it plays a meaningful role in connecting citizen concerns with parliamentary procedure. Through petitions, individuals and organisations can bring issues before Parliament, making the panel an important democratic channel.

Politically, the development is expected to generate reactions from both BJP and opposition parties. While BJP may present the appointment as recognition of Chadha’s legislative experience, critics may view it through the lens of his recent party switch.

For now, Chadha’s appointment confirms his new parliamentary responsibility and marks another important chapter in his political journey after leaving AAP and joining BJP.