Raghav Chadha leads six AAP Rajya Sabha MPs into BJP, triggering major political upheaval. Arvind Kejriwal faces biggest setback as anti-defection law enables merger, raising questions over AAP’s future, internal rift, and shifting power dynamics in Parliament.
A dramatic political shift unfolded in India’s Upper House on Friday as senior leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Raghav Chadha, announced their decision to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dealing a major setback to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.
The announcement, made during a press conference, confirmed that two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs have opted to leave the party and align with the BJP, invoking provisions under India’s anti-defection law that allow such mergers without disqualification. Chadha, once considered a close aide and trusted lieutenant of Kejriwal, said the decision had already been formally communicated to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
“This is not the party I dedicated 15 years of my life to,” Chadha said, alleging that AAP had strayed from its founding principles of transparency and anti-corruption. “I am the right person in the wrong party. Today, the AAP stands compromised and corrupt,” he added.
Alongside Chadha, prominent figures including Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney, Ashok Mittal, and Sandeep Pathak also confirmed their decision to merge with the BJP. Their exit reduces AAP’s presence in the Upper House to just three MPs—Sanjay Singh, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, and ND Gupta.
The development marks one of the most significant internal fractures in AAP since its inception in 2012, particularly given Chadha’s role as a founding member and a key architect of the party’s expansion in Punjab and Delhi. His departure follows weeks of escalating tensions, including his removal as the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha earlier this month.
Chadha justified his move as a moral choice, stating that he could either exit politics altogether or take a stand against what he described as the party’s decline. “We built this party with commitment and integrity. But today, it no longer represents the ideals we fought for,” he said.
Swati Maliwal, who had previously raised allegations of assault involving a close aide of Kejriwal in 2024, echoed similar concerns. In a strongly worded statement, she accused the party leadership of abandoning its core values and enabling corruption and misconduct. “The unchecked rise of corruption, incidents of harassment, and betrayal of public trust have compelled me to leave,” she said.
Sandeep Pathak also revealed that he had been contemplating his exit for several months, indicating that dissatisfaction within the party had been brewing beneath the surface for some time.
The AAP leadership responded swiftly and sharply. Sanjay Singh condemned the move, accusing the defecting MPs of betraying the party and its supporters. “The party gave them everything, including positions in Parliament, and they have chosen to side with those who have consistently obstructed our governance efforts,” Singh said.
He further announced that AAP would approach the Rajya Sabha Chairman seeking disqualification of some of the defecting MPs, arguing that their actions amount to voluntarily relinquishing party membership under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. However, legal experts note that the anti-defection law provides protection in cases where at least two-thirds of a legislative party merge with another, potentially shielding the group led by Chadha.
Arvind Kejriwal, in a brief but pointed reaction, accused the BJP of political opportunism. “The BJP has once again betrayed the people of Punjab,” he wrote in a social media post, highlighting the regional implications of the shift.
Political analysts suggest that Chadha’s move could strengthen the BJP’s position in the Upper House while simultaneously weakening AAP’s influence at the national level. There is also speculation that Chadha could be rewarded with a ministerial role in the Union government, although no official confirmation has been made.
The split did not come entirely as a surprise. Earlier this month, AAP’s decision to remove Chadha from a key parliamentary role signaled a deepening rift. The party had also reportedly limited his participation in parliamentary debates, further isolating him within the organization.
Chadha had publicly challenged these actions, calling them part of a “coordinated campaign” against him. In a series of video messages, he dismissed allegations of non-cooperation and asserted that he would respond to all accusations. “Every lie will be exposed,” he had said, hinting at the growing discord.
Adding to the tension, the AAP-led Punjab government had withdrawn Chadha’s Z-plus security cover, which was later reinstated by the Union Home Ministry—an intervention that many observers interpreted as a sign of his impending alignment with the BJP.
The political fallout of this development is expected to be significant, particularly in Punjab, where AAP currently governs. The defection of multiple Rajya Sabha MPs could impact the party’s legislative strategy and weaken its standing among voters.
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As the situation continues to evolve, the merger raises broader questions about party cohesion, ideological consistency, and the shifting dynamics of Indian politics. For AAP, a party born out of an anti-corruption movement, the challenge now lies in rebuilding credibility and unity in the face of its most serious internal crisis to date.
