Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, led by Raghav Chadha, join BJP in major setback

In a significant political rupture, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a major setback recently as seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs announced their decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), altering the balance of power in the Upper House ahead of a packed electoral calendar.

Among those leading the move was Raghav Chadha, alongside Sandeep Pathak. The group submitted a signed letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan, formally invoking constitutional provisions that permit a merger when at least two-thirds of a party’s MPs agree to switch.

“We have fulfilled the constitutional requirement,” Chadha said, later confirming that all necessary documents had been handed over in person.

Punjab factor looms large

Six of the seven MPs who defected were elected from Punjab— a state where AAP currently holds power and where Assembly elections are due in February–March next year. The timing of the shift has intensified its political impact, raising questions about the party’s stability in its strongest remaining bastion.

Reacting sharply, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of undermining the mandate. “The BJP has once again betrayed Punjabis,” he said.

The development also unfolded on the final day of campaigning for local-body elections in Gujarat, where polling is scheduled for April. Nearly 9,992 candidates are contesting across municipal corporations, municipalities, and panchayats — setting the stage for a three-way contest between the BJP, Congress, and AAP ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.

Numbers shift in BJP’s favor

The immediate impact is numerical—and significant. With the induction of the seven MPs, the BJP’s strength in the 245-member Rajya Sabha is set to rise to 113, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) climbs to 141—well above the halfway mark of 123.

With support from nominated members, the NDA’s effective strength could reach 148, bringing it within striking distance — just 15 seats short — of the 163 required for a two-thirds majority needed to pass Constitution amendment bills.

Who crossed over

The defectors include Chadha, Pathak, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Rajinder Gupta, and Swati Maliwal— the lone member from Delhi.

Maliwal, in a pointed remark, alleged that the party had drifted from its founding ideals and had begun shielding individuals accused of misconduct.

AAP pushes back

The remaining AAP MPs—Sanjay Singh, Narain Das Gupta, and Sant Balbir Singh—have closed ranks, with Sanjay Singh accusing the BJP of orchestrating defections through what he termed “Operation Lotus”.

“The people of Punjab will not forgive this betrayal,” he said.

Meanwhile, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya described the development as a sign of AAP’s internal collapse. “This is no longer speculation — it is unfolding in real time,” he posted.

A party under pressure

For AAP, the fallout comes at a politically vulnerable moment. Having lost Delhi to the BJP last year, Punjab remains its only state in power. The party is also preparing for high-stakes contests, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections in 2027 and a renewed push in Gujarat.

This sudden rupture in its parliamentary ranks not only dents its legislative strength but also raises deeper questions about cohesion within the party as it heads into a decisive electoral phase.