7 AAP Rajya Sabha MPs Join BJP in Major Defection
Ashok Kumar Mittal, Raghav Chadha, and other AAP MPs cite ideological drift as they switch to BJP
Quick Look
- Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs including Deputy Leader Ashok Kumar Mittal and Raghav Chadha have joined the BJP, citing ideological drift and loss of core values.
- The defection comes just 22 days after Mittal was appointed deputy leader, marking one of the most significant exits in AAP's recent parliamentary history.
- The party now faces a major organisational setback as it loses over half its Rajya Sabha strength.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Aam Aadmi Party, founded in 2012, emerged from anti-corruption protests and governed Delhi since 2015. The party held 10 Rajya Sabha seats before this defection. Internal party tensions have been brewing for months with senior leaders questioning the party's direction and leadership style.
NEW DELHI: Just 22 days after being appointed as the Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha deputy leader in place of Raghav Chadha, MP Ashok Kumar Mittal has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, marking a fresh twist in the widening crisis within the Aam Aadmi Party.
Mittal, along with Chadha and several other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, announced a collective decision to break away from the party and merge with the BJP, citing ideological drift and loss of core values within AAP.
“The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, has completely deviated from its principles and is no longer working in the national interest,” Chadha said during the press conference, as he announced the split.
Mittal's move is being seen as particularly striking given his recent elevation within the party's parliamentary structure, with his appointment as deputy leader coming just weeks ago after internal reshuffles.
AAP MPs who joined the BJP reportedly include Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal, alongside Mittal and others.
The development comes amid months of internal churn within AAP's parliamentary ranks, with multiple senior leaders openly questioning the party's direction and leadership style.
Mittal, a founder of Lovely Professional University and one of AAP's nominated MPs from Punjab, had earlier downplayed speculation about internal unrest, calling such reports “rumours”. His sudden political shift, however, now marks one of the most significant resignations in the party's recent parliamentary history.
The AAP, which currently holds 10 Rajya Sabha seats, is now facing a major organisational setback as multiple MPs exit in a coordinated political realignment.
Open Questions
- What specific ideological differences led to the split?
- Will more AAP MPs follow?
- How will this affect AAP's governance in Delhi?
