“I Was The Right Man In The Wrong Party”: Raghav Chadha Quits AAP, Joins BJP With 6 Other MPs
NEW DELHI: In a seismic political development that has sent shockwaves through the opposition camp, Raghav Chadha, one of the Aam Aadmi Party’s most prominent national faces, dramatically quit the party on Friday. The Rajya Sabha MP announced he is merging with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), taking six of his colleagues with him.
The move marks the single biggest exodus from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party since its inception and significantly alters the arithmetic of the Upper House.
“I Am The Right Man In The Wrong Party”
Addressing a joint press conference in the national capital, a visibly emotional Raghav Chadha did not hold back his criticism of the organisation he helped build from the ground up 15 years ago.
“The AAP, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values and core morals,” Chadha declared.
Asserting his alienation from the current party leadership, he added, “For the past few years, I have felt that I am the right man in the wrong party. Today, I announce I am distancing myself from the AAP and getting close to the public,” he said.
The Merger: 7 MPs Cross The Floor
Chadha confirmed that the group has invoked the constitutional provision that permits a merger when two-thirds of a party’s legislators agree to switch sides. The Aam Aadmi Party currently has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha.
“We have decided that we, the two-thirds members belonging to the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP,” Chadha announced.
The list of MPs switching sides includes:
- Raghav Chadha
- Sandeep Pathak (National General Secretary)
- Ashok Mittal (who recently replaced Chadha as Deputy Leader)
- Harbhajan Singh (Former Cricketer)
- Swati Maliwal (Former DCW Chief)
- Rajinder Gupta
- Vikram Sahney
The group confirmed they have submitted a formal letter and signed documents to Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan.
Why Did Raghav Chadha Quit AAP? The Growing Rift
While the announcement came as a shock to supporters, political watchers noted the writing has been on the wall for months.
The final nail in the coffin came earlier this month when the AAP leadership stripped Chadha of his post as Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing him with Ashok Mittal. Following his removal, Chadha had taken to social media to claim he was “silenced but not defeated”.
Tensions had reportedly been simmering since the 2024 arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. Unlike his party colleagues, Chadha remained largely absent from public protests and was notably silent during the Delhi election campaign last year.
Clarifying his decision to sever ties, Chadha alleged the party was involved in “wrongdoings.” “I was not eligible for their friendship because I was not a part of their crime. We had just two options, either quit politics or do positive politics with our energy and experience,” he stated.
Political Fallout: What This Means For AAP And BJP
For AAP:Â This is a devastating blow to Arvind Kejriwal. The party has been reduced to just 3 MPs in the Upper House (Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta, and Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal). With Punjab Assembly elections due in just 10 months, the loss of six Punjabi representatives, including the party’s architect of the Punjab win, Sandeep Pathak, cripples the party’s organizational structure in the state.
For BJP:Â The rulingparty gains significantly. The merger bolsters its Rajya Sabha numbers from 98 to over 105, making it easier to pass legislation in the Upper House. Furthermore, by inducting Raghav Chadha and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, the BJP gains significant Punjabi influence and faces with national appeal.
AAP Responds: “People of Punjab Will Never Forget”
Responding to the high-voltage defection, senior AAP leader and remaining Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh launched a scathing attack. He accused the BJP of orchestrating the split and cautioned voters in Punjab.
“The BJP has done the work of obstructing the good works done by the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. These seven MPs are joining the BJP. The people of Punjab should remember these seven names. The people of Punjab will never forget them,” Sanjay Singh said.
As of publishing, the BJP has not formally issued a statement on the induction, though sources suggest the new members are expected to meet party chief Nitin Nabin shortly.
