AAP’s Test: Mass Defection Exposes Cracks in Kejriwal’s Camp
AAP Faces Major Exodus as Mittal, Chadha Among 7 MPs Join BJP
- Arvind Kejriwal faces major setback as MPs quit party
- Ashok Mittal, Raghav Chadha among leaders joining BJP
- Move meets two-thirds rule under anti-defection law
- Signals deepening internal rift within Aam Aadmi Party
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th April: The Aam Aadmi Party suffered a major political setback on Friday as seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Ashok Mittal and Raghav Chadha, announced their decision to join the BJP.
The development came just hours after party chief Arvind Kejriwal shifted to a new government residence in Delhi, marking a dramatic turn in the party’s internal dynamics.
Other leaders who joined the BJP include Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney, taking the number of defecting MPs to more than two-thirds of AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha. This allows them to retain their membership under the anti-defection provisions.
The exits follow growing tensions within the party, which surfaced earlier this month when Chadha was removed as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and replaced by Mittal.
Sources indicated that internal disagreements over leadership decisions and organisational direction had been building for months. The situation escalated further after a proposed meeting between Kejriwal and the MPs did not take place, with the leaders announcing their departure beforehand.
The move is expected to significantly alter AAP’s parliamentary strength and political positioning, particularly in the Upper House.
Political reactions are likely to intensify as the fallout from the high-profile defections unfolds.
