Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal quit AAP to join BJP, Rajya Sabha shake-up
Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal quit AAP to join BJP, Rajya Sabha shake-up
Rajya Sabha MPs including Raghav Chadha and Ashok Mittal defect to BJP, signaling a major realignment amid AAP turmoil.
In a watershed shift, Rajya Sabha MPs including Raghav Chadha and Ashok Mittal announced their exit from the Aam Aadmi Party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. They were joined by Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney, and Swati Maliwal. The group cited ideological drift and a focus on personal gains as reasons for leaving, marking a major setback for AAP amid internal turmoil.
Chadha had been removed from the post of Rajya Sabha deputy leader days earlier, a development the party framed as part of a broader reshuffle, and Mittal’s elevation to a leadership role made his decision to switch parties particularly notable.
Reacting, AAP described the defections as a blow to the party's ethos, while the BJP framed the development as a growth opportunity and a testament to its expanding reach.
Analysts say the move could reshape the Rajya Sabha arithmetic, potentially influencing upcoming legislative battles and the national political contest as parties recalibrate their strategies.
With replacements likely in the offing, the AAP leadership faces questions about its internal coherence and how it will manage fallout in key states, including Delhi, where the party has been a force.
