AAP Implosion: Raghav Chadha and 6 Rajya Sabha MPs Join BJP
On Friday, April 24, 2026, experienced Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a historic political realignment. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffers a severe setback as a result of this action, since Chadha led a breakaway group that included seven of the ten AAP Rajya Sabha members. The group avoided disqualification under the anti-defection law by effectively exercising the merger provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution by relocating with two-thirds of the legislative party.
The Breakaway: Who Joined BJP?
Former “blue-eyed boy” and AAP founding member Raghav Chadha was joined at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi by a number of prominent colleagues. To formally enter, the group met with Nitin Nabin, the president of the BJP.
The following seven Members of Parliament joined the BJP:
Raghav Chadha (Punjab)
Sandeep Pathak (National General Secretary, Organisation)
Ashok Mittal (Founder of Lovely Professional University)
Harbhajan Singh (Former Indian cricketer)
Swati Maliwal (Former DCW Chief)
Vikramjit Singh Sahney
Rajinder Gupta
“Right Man in the Wrong Party”
During a press conference, Chadha cited a deep ideological disconnect. He spoke about feeling “suffocated” within the party he nurtured for 15 years. Furthermore, he stated that the party had completely deviated from its original principles.
“I nurtured AAP with my blood and sweat,” Chadha remarked. However, he noted that the party has since lost its core morals. Consequently, he felt like the right man in the wrong party. In addition, he stated that he did not want to be “a part of their crimes.”
The Flashpoint: Internal Rift for Months
Tension brewed for months before the final breakup. The immediate trigger was the AAP leadership’s decision on April 2, 2026. They removed Chadha as Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. Furthermore, they installed Ashok Mittal in his place. Reports also suggest the party restricted his speaking time. Specifically, they asked the Secretariat not to use their official quota for him.
Prominent leaders Atishi and Bhagwant Mann recently attacked Chadha’s loyalty. They accused him of adopting a “soft stance” against the Centre. Additionally, they claimed he failed to back the party during protests. These demonstrations were connected to Arvind Kejriwal’s ongoing detention.
Reactions and Rajya Sabha Realignment
In response, the AAP leadership harshly denounced the defectors, calling them “traitors.” The BJP was accused by Arvind Kejriwal of “betraying Punjab,” while Sanjay Singh said there was a large-scale “Operation Lotus” plot. However, the BJP applauded the action. Bansuri Swaraj and other party leaders asserted that the departure represents a total “internal collapse” in the AAP.
The Rajya Sabha maths is significantly changed by this change. The number of members in the BJP has increased from 106 to 113. In the meantime, the AAP’s membership fell from ten to three. The group fulfilled the Tenth Schedule’s two-thirds criteria by obtaining seven out of ten MPs. They can join the BJP without being disqualified thanks to this legal threshold.
Conclusion
The biggest internal crisis the Aam Aadmi Party has experienced since its founding is the mass defection of Raghav Chadha and his associates. The party’s influence in the Upper House has drastically decreased, despite the efforts of the remaining core members, such as N.D. Gupta and Sanjay Singh, to maintain their position. This realignment increases the BJP’s influence in Punjab and fortifies its legislative authority. The implications of this “Operation Lotus” triumph on the next state elections are now the main topic of discussion.