“Political U-Turn”: Raghav Chadha and Six Rajya Sabha MPs Resign from AAP, Join BJP

New Delhi: A significant political development unfolded on Friday as Raghav Chadha, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, officially resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The MPs made the announcement after they submitted their resignation to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, marking a pivotal moment in Indian politics.

Raghav Chadha, a former Rajya Sabha member of the AAP, took to social media to declare, “Today, exercising the provisions of the Constitution of India, more than two-thirds of the AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha have merged with the BJP.”

 “Seven MPs have signed the document, which was submitted to the Hon’ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. I, along with two other MPs, personally handed over the signed documents,”he further added.

In a formal statement, BJP National President Nitin Nabin welcomed the seven new members into the party fold. Nabin wrote on X, “BJP National President Nitin Nabin warmly welcomed Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Shri Ashok Mittal into the BJP family at the Party Headquarters today.” He also congratulated the other four MPs—Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahney—for joining the BJP.

The joining of the seven MPs is seen as a significant blow to AAP, as the party now faces the defection of two-thirds of its Rajya Sabha members. In a media interaction, Raghav Chadha explained that the decision was driven by the party’s growing departure from its core principles. “The AAP, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, and gave 15 years of my youth to, has deviated from its principles, values and core morals. Now this party does not work in the interest of the nation but for its personal benefits,” Chadha stated.

Chadha, along with Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, held a press conference to explain their move. He remarked, “For the past few years, I could feel that I am the right man in the wrong party. So, today, we announce that I am distancing myself from the AAP and getting close to the public.”

The MPs’ departure comes days after AAP removed Raghav Chadha from his position as Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. Sources within AAP suggest that the move to oust Chadha was a result of internal disagreements over party strategy and governance, as well as his growing dissatisfaction with the direction the party was taking under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.

In response to the developments, AAP’s national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, condemned the move and accused the BJP of “betraying the Punjabis.” On X, Kejriwal expressed his disappointment, “BJP ne fir se Punjabio ke sath kia dhakka” (The BJP has once again given Punjabis a shove).

The political reshuffle in the Rajya Sabha has intensified tensions within the opposition, with the BJP seizing the opportunity to expand its influence. This development marks a significant shift in the balance of power in the Rajya Sabha, where the BJP now gains additional strength with the merger of seven AAP MPs.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the shift of these key MPs to the BJP has raised questions about the future trajectory of AAP and its influence in the national political arena.

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Shoaibur Rahman

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