Raghav Chadha, 6 other MPs quit AAP, join BJP

Disgruntled AAP MP Raghav Chadha joined the BJP on Friday (April 24). He also said that six, or two-thirds of the AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, are also merging with the ruling party at the Centre.

"We have decided that we, the two-third members belonging to the AAP in Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP,” said Chadha.

Elaborating further, he accused the AAP of not working in the nation's interest but for its own selfish gain. He accused the AAP of deviating from its core principles and values, adding that he had given 15 years of his youth to the party.

Break with party ideals

"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 was the right man in the wrong party. So, today, we announce that I am distancing myself from the AAP and getting closer to the public,” he added, as quoted by ANI.

Also Read: Raghav Chadha leads AAP MPs' exit to BJP: What Anti-Defection Law’s two-thirds rule says

Chadha said that out of the 10 AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha, over 2/3rd will merge with the BJP, with him adding that the required documents have already been submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

Numbers and signatories

"There are 10 AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha, more than two-third 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," said Chadha.

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"...I am telling you the real reason as to why I distanced myself from party activities. I did not want to be a part of their crimes. I was not eligible for their friendship because I was not a part of their crime. We had just two options - either quit politics and give up our public work in the last 15-16 years or we do positive politics with our energy and experience. So, 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,” he added.

"Today, exercising the provisions of the Constitution of India, more than two-thirds of the AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha have merged with the BJP. Seven MPs have signed the document, which was submitted to the Hon’ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. I, along with two other MPs, personally handed over the signed documents," he stated in a post on X later in the day.

Backdrop of internal rift

The development comes days after Chadha publicly pushed back against the AAP, over what he described as a sustained attempt to sideline him in Parliament.

In a video message posted on X, Chadha said the party had levelled three accusations to justify restricting his participation in the Rajya Sabha, calling each of them “white lies” and part of a “coordinated campaign.”

Rebuttal of allegations

He first addressed the charge that he avoided Opposition walkouts. Chadha rejected the claim outright and asked the party to produce a single instance to support it. He pointed to surveillance coverage inside Parliament, saying footage would show he had consistently followed the Opposition line during such protests.

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On the second allegation, his purported refusal to sign a motion linked to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chadha said no party functionary had approached him on the matter, either formally or informally. He also noted that several other AAP MPs had not signed the document and questioned why the criticism seemed directed solely at him. The motion, he added, required a threshold number of signatures, suggesting the controversy was overstated.

Position on parliamentary conduct

Chadha also sought to reframe his conduct in Parliament, saying his interventions had focused on taxation, pollution, public health, education, and unemployment. He maintained that parliamentary time, funded by taxpayers, should be used to raise substantive issues rather than stage disruptions.

“Every lie will be exposed,” he said.

Kejriwal's cryptic post

Soon after Chadha's announcement, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal made a cryptic post on X stating "The BJP has once again given Punjabis a shove." However, he did not mention Chadha.

"...The BJP has done the work of obstructing the good works done by 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...," said AAP MP Sanjay Singh.