AAP Leaders Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak Join BJP Ahead of Punjab Elections

There was little surprise when AAP leader Raghav Chadha and six other MPs joined the BJP. Over the past few months, it had become increasingly clear that such a move was on the cards; the BJP only had to decide the timing.

On Friday, when Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal addressed a press conference at the Constitution Club, the presence of BJP leaders at the venue made it evident that the move had been carefully planned. With the Punjab Assembly elections due early next year, the BJP is preparing to contest on its own strength.

The induction of Chadha and other AAP leaders is part of a broader strategy to bolster the party in the state ahead of the polls. Chadha and Pathak were key figures behind AAP's victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, and both had been in touch with the BJP for several months, sources said.

The BJP is working to expand its appeal across different voter groups in Punjab, inducting leaders accordingly. The party is also seeking to make inroads into the Panthic vote, once dominated by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). With SAD in decline, BJP leaders believe this vote bank is up for grabs, as it is disillusioned with both the Congress and the AAP.

Earlier this month, noted Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka joined the BJP, lending weight to its outreach among Panthic voters. While the Congress retains a strong base among Scheduled Castes in the state, the BJP has begun targeted outreach to the community.

In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar on Sant Ravidas Jayanti. Days earlier, Dera chief Sant Niranjan Das was awarded the Padma Shri. The dera is a key religious centre for the Ravidassia community, drawing followers from across the country.