Raghav Chadha quits AAP, to join BJP along with seven Rajya Sabha MPs

In a major political development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has announced that he and six other upper house MPs are quitting the party and will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) . The move is being seen as a significant setback for AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, April 24, Chadha said that over two-thirds of AAP's 10 Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to merge with the BJP, invoking the constitutional provision that exempts such a move from anti-defection law when two-thirds of a party's legislators agree to a merger . The group has submitted a formal letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman informing him of their decision.

Chadha accused AAP of having "completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals" and alleged that the party no longer works in the national interest but for personal gain . "The AAP that I nurtured with my blood and sweat for 15 years has now become corrupt and compromised. I am the right man in the wrong party," Chadha said.

Alongside Chadha, the MPs who have quit AAP include Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal . Pathak and Mittal were present at the press conference with Chadha . Following the announcement, the seven MPs met BJP president Nitin Nabin at the party headquarters.

After the exits, AAP's Rajya Sabha strength will be reduced to three MPs – Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta, and Balbir Singh Seechewal.

Reacting to the development, AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that "Operation Lotus" was being played and accused the BJP of using central agencies like the ED and CBI to poach opposition MPs . Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called the departing leaders "traitors" . Kejriwal said on social media, "The BJP has once again betrayed Punjabis" . Chadha was removed as AAP's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha earlier this month.