A fresh political storm erupted in New Delhi on 23 May after Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had 'sold' Rajya Sabha seats, triggering a sharp offensive from National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders against AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal — even as Opposition INDIA bloc parties turned on the former cricketer himself, calling him 'equally responsible.'

What Harbhajan Singh Said

The controversy ignited when Harbhajan Singh publicly warned the AAP that 'when the time comes, he would reveal how many Punjab Rajya Sabha seats were sold.' The statement, made by a sitting MP who entered the Rajya Sabha on an AAP ticket in 2022, immediately drew reactions from across the political spectrum.

NDA's Broadside Against AAP

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam demanded that Singh name the AAP leaders allegedly involved in the seat-selling arrangement. 'He should also reveal that Arvind Kejriwal sold the Rajya Sabha seats for how much money. The AAP leaders pretended to be honest but now their reality is being revealed,' Nirupam said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh broadened the attack, linking the allegations to existing corruption charges against Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. 'It reflects that the party is drowned in corruption where Rajya Sabha seats are being sold. So many leaders have left AAP because its real face of corruption and anti-nationalism has been revealed,' Chugh said.

Janata Dal-United (JDU) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said the allegations, if substantiated, would confirm a structural rot in the party. 'It is clearly visible that the foundation of the Aam Aadmi Party is weakening,' he said, while noting that only Singh could produce the evidence.

INDIA Bloc Turns the Tables on Singh

Opposition leaders were equally unsparing — but directed their fire at Singh rather than AAP alone. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha argued that Singh's prolonged silence made him complicit. 'He is not new to politics. He has been Rajya Sabha MP from 2022. That makes him equally responsible,' Jha said.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput went further, questioning whether Singh himself had paid to secure his seat. 'Harbhajan Singh should reveal how much he paid to buy a Rajya Sabha seat and after that in how much he sold himself to the BJP,' Rajput alleged. He added: 'On one hand AAP takes bribe to give Rajya Sabha seats, on the other BJP gives bribe to buy Rajya Sabha MPs. Both are two sides of the same coin.'

Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Ashutosh Verma echoed the charge, questioning why Singh stayed silent during his tenure with AAP. 'Did he also buy the seat to go to the Rajya Sabha? Why didn't he say anything during his time with the party?' Verma asked, adding that Singh appeared to have spoken out only 'due to pressure from those in power.'

Broader Context

This is not the first time AAP has faced internal dissent from elected representatives. The party, which swept Punjab in 2022, has seen a steady stream of defections and public grievances from allies and members alike. Notably, allegations of transactional politics in upper-house nominations have dogged multiple parties across India, making this controversy a flashpoint for a wider debate on how Rajya Sabha seats are allocated. How Singh chooses to substantiate — or walk back — his claims will determine whether the episode inflicts lasting damage on AAP ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.