MP Raghav Chadha Hits the Streets as Delivery Partner to Highlight Gig Worker Woes

AAP leader rides pillion to understand delivery struggles

Politics met the pavement recently when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha traded his parliamentary attire for a delivery uniform. In a move designed to understand the harsh realities of the gig economy, the Rajya Sabha member spent a day working as a Blinkit delivery partner. This on-ground experience comes amidst a heated national debate concerning the rights, wages, and social security of app-based workers.

Chadha shared a teaser of his experience on social media platform X, stating, "Away from boardrooms, at the grassroots. I lived their day." The footage shows the MP wearing the company’s signature red uniform, riding pillion on a delivery bike, and personally handing over grocery orders to customers at their doorsteps. By stepping into their shoes, Chadha aims to bring attention to the physical and mental toll the job takes on thousands of young Indians.

This field exercise is not an isolated event but follows a series of interactions Chadha has held with gig workers regarding long shifts and unstable pay structures. It serves as a direct counter-narrative to corporate defenses of the sector. Recently, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal defended the gig model in a viral podcast, suggesting the system is fair because it continues to attract workers. Goyal also emphasized the sector's role as a massive job creator for the nation.

However, Chadha strongly criticized this stance. He took a swipe at Goyal’s approach to recent worker strikes, posting on X that the situation required genuine dialogue rather than "paid tweets, personal attacks, and a podcast."

The backdrop to this political intervention is a wave of protests that occurred in late December, where delivery partners demanded better safety nets. While company executives argue that the gig economy provides essential income for families, leaders like Chadha are pushing for concrete policy changes to ensure these "partners" receive dignity and financial security, not just employment.