Onlykashmir.in News Desk
New Delhi: In a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has quit the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), triggering a wave of defections. Along with him, six other Members of Parliament have also resigned from AAP, dealing a serious blow to the party’s strength in the Upper House.
According to reports, leaders who exited the Arvind Kejriwal-led party include Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Rajinder Gupta.
Explaining his decision, Raghav Chadha said:
“I am telling you the real reason why I distanced myself from party activities. I was not part of their wrongdoing, and therefore not eligible for their friendship. The AAP to which I gave 15 years of my life has now drifted away from honest politics. I am the right man in the wrong party. Today, AAP is corrupt and compromised.”
Political observers say this development could reduce AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha by nearly two-thirds, significantly benefiting the BJP. Sources indicate that the leaders formally joined the BJP after meeting party president J. P. Nadda.
Experts note that if seven MPs leave together, they can meet the two-thirds threshold required to avoid disqualification under anti-defection laws, allowing them to retain their parliamentary membership.
Reacting to the development, Arvind Kejriwal said, “The BJP has once again pushed Punjabis aside.”
The development is being seen as a major political upheaval in the national capital, with far-reaching implications expected in the coming days.
