New Delhi: In a massive political earthquake for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, spearheaded by senior leader Raghav Chadha, have decided to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This mass defection threatens to decimate AAP’s strength in the Upper House and poses a severe challenge to Arvind Kejriwal’s footing in Punjab.
On Friday, Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Ashok Mittal officially joined the saffron party. Four others—Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal—are also switching sides. While they were absent from the BJP headquarters due to personal commitments and health issues, Sahney and Maliwal confirmed their rebellion on social media.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vikramjit Sahney stated, “I believe that as part of the BJP, I will be able to serve Punjab and its people with greater dedication and effectiveness with the support of the Centre.”
Meanwhile, Swati Maliwal launched a scathing attack on the AAP leadership. Citing rampant corruption and the physical assault she allegedly faced at Kejriwal’s residence, she posted, “To protect his goon, he crossed all limits and rewarded him with high posts. I was threatened with ruin.”
The defection follows Chadha’s recent removal as AAP’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. Strikingly, Ashok Mittal, who replaced him, has also defected. Because seven out of ten AAP MPs are rebelling together, the faction comfortably bypasses the anti-defection law limit, leaving AAP with a mere three MPs in the Upper House.
The AAP leadership reacted furiously. Arvind Kejriwal, alongside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and MP Sanjay Singh, termed the move a “betrayal of the people of Punjab.” Sanjay Singh announced that the party would petition the Rajya Sabha Chairman to disqualify the
rebel MPs under the Tenth Schedule.
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