In a significant political development on Friday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha announced that he, along with a group of party MPs, has decided to part ways with AAP and move towards a merger with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), invoking constitutional provisions.
Addressing a press conference alongside fellow Rajya Sabha MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha stated that “two-thirds of AAP’s members in the Rajya Sabha” have taken a collective decision to merge with the BJP. The move, he said, is being carried out in accordance with provisions of the Constitution of India that allow such a merger under specific conditions.
The announcement marks a major setback for the AAP in the Upper House and signals a dramatic shift in the national political landscape. According to multiple open-source reports, Chadha, Pathak, and Mittal have already resigned from the party and are set to formally join the BJP.
This development comes amid visible internal tensions within the AAP over the past few weeks. Chadha was recently removed from the post of deputy leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, a move that had triggered speculation about growing differences between him and the party leadership.
In his remarks, Chadha also indicated dissatisfaction with the party’s direction, alleging that it had deviated from its founding principles. Open-source inputs suggest that he described the party as having strayed from its original values, further underlining the reasons behind his exit.
Political observers view the development as a potentially significant realignment ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, with implications for both AAP’s parliamentary strength and the BJP’s position in the Rajya Sabha. The decision by a substantial section of AAP’s Upper House MPs to shift allegiance could alter the balance within the chamber.
The statement, if substantiated, could indicate a major split within the AAP’s parliamentary wing in the Rajya Sabha. Under the anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of Indiaa merger is considered valid if at least two-thirds of the members of a legislative party agree to it.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the Aam Aadmi Party leadership or the Bharatiya Janata Party regarding such a merger at the time of publication. Senior leaders from both parties have yet to respond publicly to the claim.
Political analysts note that any such move would require formal procedural steps, including recognition by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, before it can take effect.
The AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwalhas not issued any statement clarifying the remarks made at the press conference. Similarly, BJP officials have remained silent on the development, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the claim.
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