Kumar Bahukhandi
“The AAP, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, and gave 15 years of my youth to, has deviated from its principles, values and core morals,” Raghav Chadha said. Screengrab: PTI
Besides Raghav Chadha, Rajya Sabha MPs Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal also quit the party
Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha and six other Aam Aadmi Party parliamentarians on Friday April 24, 2026 quit the party and joined the BJP.
Addressing a press conference with Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha, who was recently demoted by AAP, said, “We have decided that we, the 2/3rd members belonging to the AAP in Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP.”
Raghav Chadha said, “The AAP, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, and gave 15 years of my youth to, has deviated from its principles, values and core morals. Now this party does not work in the interest of the nation but for its personal benefits…For the past few years, I could feel that I am the right man in the wrong party. So, today, we announce that I am distancing myself from the AAP and getting close to public.”
Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal also quit the Aam Aadmi Party.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha said, “There are 10 AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha, more than 2/3rd of them are with us in this. They have signed, and this morning we submitted the signed letter and documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman. 3 of them are here before you. Besides us, there are Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal.”
Punjab should remember these seven names: Sanjay Singh
Reacting to the exit of seven MPs, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, “The BJP has done the work of obstructing the good works done by the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann-led AAP Government. 7 AAP Rajya Sabha MPs are joining the BJP. The people of Punjab should remember these 7 names. The people of Punjab will never forget them.”
Earlier this month, the Aam Aadmi Party replaced Chadha with Mittal as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. The party accused Chadha of not signing the notice seeking the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and not taking part in protests organised by the Opposition. Raghav Chadha hit back, asking if raising matters impacting the public was a crime.
The Anti-Defection law, which disqualifies legislators if they switch parties or defy party whip cannot be applied at least two-thirds of the legislators agree to the merger.
The AAP has three MPs in Lok Sabha and 10 in Rajya Sabha.
With seven Rajya Sabha members joining the BJP, it’s strength has been reduced to three in each House.
(with inputs from PTI, ANI)
