A major political development unfolded on Friday as Raghav Chadha announced his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with a significant group of Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The move is being seen as a substantial setback for AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Addressing a press conference, Chadha stated that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s 10 members in the Rajya Sabha have decided to merge with the BJP. He confirmed that the formal communication regarding the merger has already been submitted to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Under India’s anti-defection law, such a move is permissible if at least two-thirds of a party’s legislators agree to merge with another party.
Chadha, who has been associated with AAP since its inception in 2012, justified his decision by alleging that the party has strayed from its founding principles. He accused AAP of abandoning its commitment to clean politics, stating that the organization is now “corrupt and compromised.” He added that after dedicating over a decade to building the party, he felt compelled to either quit politics or take what he described as the “right path.”
Among the leaders expected to join the BJP alongside Chadha are Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal, along with Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney, Ashok Mittal, and Sandeep Pathak.
Following these exits, AAP will be left with three Rajya Sabha MPs: Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, Sanjay Singh, and ND Gupta.
Sources indicate that Chadha could be considered for a position in the Union Cabinet after formally joining the BJP.
Reacting swiftly, AAP leaders condemned the move, calling it a betrayal of the party and its supporters. Sanjay Singh, addressing the media shortly after Chadha’s announcement, criticized both Chadha and the BJP. He remarked that the party had elevated Chadha to prominence, only for him to switch sides. Singh also accused the BJP of consistently obstructing the work of the AAP-led Punjab government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
He further stated that the people of Punjab would not forget the actions of the leaders who chose to leave, emphasizing that the political consequences would be evident in due course.
The development marks a significant shift in the political landscape, particularly in the Rajya Sabha, and could have broader implications for both AAP and BJP in the coming months.
