Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday announced that over two-thirds of AAP members in the Upper House are merging with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), invoking provisions under the Constitution to retain their membership.
Addressing a press conference, Chadha said the decision was taken collectively by a majority of AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha, including Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak. He further claimed that leaders such as Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal have also backed the move.
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The development comes days after Chadha was removed as the deputy leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha over allegations of failing to strongly oppose the government and engaging in “soft PR.” With AAP having 10 MPs in the Upper House, Chadha asserted that the required two-thirds support ensures the members can avoid disqualification under anti-defection laws.
Explaining his decision, Chadha said the party had strayed from its founding principles. He alleged that AAP no longer serves national interest but operates for “personal benefits.”
“I felt I was the right man in the wrong party,” he said, adding that he chose to continue public service rather than quit politics. The move marks a significant political shift and could have major implications for AAP’s standing in Parliament.
