In a huge setback to the AAP, seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha members, constituting two-thirds of the party strength in the Upper House, crossed over to the BJP Friday, creating ripples in political circles, especially in Punjab where AAP’s rule will be tested in Assembly elections early next year.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, AAP MP Raghav Chadha, removed as the party deputy leader in Rajya Sabha three weeks ago, said he, along with six party members of the House, had “merged with the BJP”.
The AAP had 10 MPs in Rajya Sabha — 7 from Punjab, 3 from Delhi.
Flanked by MPs Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, Chadha announced their exit from the AAP along with Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Swati Maliwal and Harbhajan Singh. “They have already signed, and this morning we submitted all the required documentation, including signed letters and other formal paperwork, to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha,” he said.
Following the press conference, Chadha and his colleagues headed to the BJP headquarters where they were welcomed into the party fold by BJP president Nitin Nabin.
With the “merger” of the AAP faction, the BJP strength in the 245-member Rajya Sabha is set to rise to 113 and that of the NDA to 148.
Nabin, in a post on X, said, “Welcomed Raghav Chadha Ji, Sandeep Pathak Ji, and Ashok Mittal Ji to the BJP family at the Party HQ today. Also, best wishes to Harbhajan Singh Ji, Swati Maliwal Ji, Vikram Sahney Ji, and Rajinder Gupta Ji to work under the dynamic leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji towards the goal of #ViksitBharat2047.”
The AAP reacted angrily, calling it a “betrayal” and another “Operation Lotus” of the BJP. Party convener Arvind Kejriwal, in a post on X, said, “The BJP has once again given Punjabis a shove.”
AAP’s Sanjay Singh, also a Rajya Sabha member, said, “I will submit a letter to the Hon’ble Rajya Sabha Chairman in which a demand will be made to declare Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak disqualified from Rajya Sabha membership for joining the BJP, as this is tantamount to voluntarily relinquishing membership of their original party under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.”
Singh told reporters: “The BJP, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah’s Operation Lotus, the game of dirty politics and the conspiracy to stall the Bhagwant Mann government’s good work has begun on a large scale.”
“Today, they have broken away AAP’s seven Rajya Sabha MPs and got them inducted in the BJP. The people of Punjab should remember these seven names… never forgive them,” he also said, naming each of the seven defectors and calling them “traitors”. Targeting them, he said this was how they had repaid the AAP for “taking them from the street and elevating them to Parliament”.
Earlier, Chadha told reporters: “The Aam Aadmi Party which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and gave 15 years of my youth… has completely strayed from its principles, values and core morals. Now this party does not work for the interests of the nation, but for its personal gain.”
“I felt like I was the right man in the wrong party. That is why, we announce today that we are moving away from the Aam Aadmi Party to be closer to the people… We have decided that we, the two-third Members of Parliament of the Aam Aadmi Party belonging to Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP,” he said, praising Modi’s leadership and the decisions of his government.
Their exit leaves the AAP with only three members in Rajya Sabha: Sanjay Singh, N D Gupta and Balbir Singh Seechewal.
Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal meet BJP National President Nitin Nabin at the party headquarters, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo) 
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