Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha set social media abuzz this Monday by releasing a teaser video where he is seen dressed as a delivery executive for the quick-commerce platform Blinkit. The clip offers a sneak peek into the life of a gig worker, with the MP promising more details soon.
From Parliament to Pavement: Chadha's Grassroots Experiment
The short video, shared on the platform X, shows Chadha wearing the signature uniform of the delivery company. He is seen spending a day on the ground, presumably understanding the routines and challenges faced by delivery partners. Concluding the teaser with a "Stay Tuned" caption, Chadha accompanied the post with a message stating, "Away from boardrooms, at the grassroots. I lived their day. Stay tuned!"
The move instantly drew massive attention and mixed reactions online. While many netizens applauded the hands-on approach, others questioned its authenticity. One user directly tagged Blinkit, asking if the MP had officially signed up as a rider or was merely shadowing one, suggesting the latter could be a violation of the company's terms of service.
Amplifying the Voice of Gig Workers
This social media activity is not an isolated act but part of Chadha's ongoing and vocal advocacy for the rights of gig economy workers. Just days before posting the teaser, the AAP parliamentarian had strongly defended delivery partners who participated in a strike. He accused platform companies of politicizing the workers' legitimate demands for fair pay and dignified working conditions.
In a post on X during the strike, Chadha argued that workers seeking fair compensation are not criminals. He criticized a system that relies on police intervention to function, stating, "When one day’s income decides rent, electricity, or a child’s school fee, logging in on a strike day is not approval, it is survival." He clarified his stance by saying, "I am pro-industry, not pro-exploitation."
A Consistent Advocate in Parliament and Beyond
Raghav Chadha has repeatedly raised critical issues plaguing delivery partners in India's growing gig economy. His concerns prominently feature algorithm-driven incentives, low pay structures, excessively long working hours, and safety risks. He has previously brought these matters to the floor of the Rajya Sabha for discussion.
Extending his advocacy beyond speeches, Chadha has also met with delivery workers personally to hear their experiences firsthand. Last month, he invited a Blinkit delivery partner to his residence after a video by the worker about meager daily earnings went viral online. This interaction further intensified the public discourse on the sustainability and ethics of the gig economy model.
The viral teaser video, therefore, serves as a powerful extension of his campaign, using social media's reach to spotlight the human stories behind the instant delivery services that urban India heavily relies on.
