Saffron Surge in Rajya Sabha: 7 AAP MPs Defect to BJP as Ruling Party Hits Record 113 Seats:

In a major political upheaval that has redrawn the power dynamics of the Upper House, seven Rajya Sabha members from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have officially merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan greenlit the merger on Monday, April 27, 2026, marking a historic milestone for the BJP and a devastating blow to Arvind Kejriwal’s party.

BJP Hits Historic High; AAP Left Reeling

With this merger, the BJP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha has surged to 113 membersthe highest the party has ever achieved in its history. Conversely, AAP’s representation has plummeted from 10 seats to just 3. Out of the 7 defecting MPs all representing Punjab only Balbir Singh Seechewal remains with AAP. The rest joined the BJP under the leadership of Raghav Chadha, citing a “deviation from the party’s original objectives” as their primary reason for the exit.

The Big Names Who Switched Sides

The group of defectors includes some of the most prominent faces of the Aam Aadmi Party:

Raghav Chadha: Formerly a key strategist and face of the party in the Upper House.

Sandeep Pathak: The party’s Organization General Secretary and a close aide to Kejriwal.

Harbhajan Singh: Legendary former cricketer.

Swati Maliwal: Former DCW Chief.

Ashok Mittal: Deputy Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha.

Vikramjit Singh Sahney & Rajinder Gupta.

The shift of Sandeep Pathak is particularly shocking to political analysts, given his role as a core strategist who reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over being sidelined in Punjab affairs.

Allegations and Counter-Claims: “Resign or Else”

The defection has been marred by serious allegations. Vikramjit Singh Sahney claimed that during a meeting on April 22, Arvind Kejriwal pressured him to resign from his Rajya Sabha seat, an offer Sahney flatly refused before choosing to join the BJP.

AAP had previously filed a petition with the Rajya Sabha Chairman seeking the disqualification of three of these MPs under the anti-defection law, arguing they were a minority. However, the Chairman’s approval of the 7-member merger effectively nullifies those claims, providing them legal protection as a group move.

Strategic Implications for the Government

This record-breaking tally of 113 seats significantly eases the path for the BJP-led government to pass crucial legislation in the Rajya Sabha, where it has historically faced tougher resistance compared to the Lok Sabha. For AAP, the loss of its Punjab heavyweights signals a deep internal crisis just as the party looks toward future electoral challenges.

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