New Delhi, April 24: In a seismic political development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday, April 24, announced that seven of AAP's ten Rajya Sabha members — a two-thirds majority — are formally merging with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chadha cited a sense of suffocation within the party and a growing disconnect from the founding principles he had championed alongside Arvind Kejriwal over 15 years.

The Announcement and Who Is Leaving

Speaking at a press conference flanked by AAP MPs Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, Chadha declared, 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.

Among those parting ways with AAP are prominent names including former cricketer Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal, the former Delhi Commission for Women chief who had previously made headlines for her public fallout with the party leadership.

The defection is constitutionally significant — a merger of two-thirds of a legislative party group is protected under the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, meaning these MPs cannot be disqualified under anti-defection rules.

The Trigger: Demotion and Internal Rift

Chadha's departure comes within days of his demotion from the post of Deputy Leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha. The party had reportedly stripped him of the position over allegations that he failed to raise critical issues against the ruling government — a charge he vehemently denied.

In a pointed rebuttal, Chadha posted a video compilation of his parliamentary interventions, writing: With respect, to those questioning my parliamentary performance, I'll let my work do the talking.

The video highlighted his work on issues ranging from data expiry policies, paternity leave legislation, minimum balance penalties in banks, food adulteration, incoming call charges, the 28-day recharge scam, taxation anomalies, and excess baggage charges by airlines.

In a striking irony, Ashok Mittal — the very MP elevated to replace Chadha as Deputy Leader — has also joined the merger with BJP, dealing a double blow to AAP's Rajya Sabha standing.

Deeper Context: AAP's Unravelling Upper House Presence

This defection is not happening in a vacuum. AAP has been under sustained pressure since Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case in 2024, a period that exposed deep fault lines within the party's leadership structure. The party's crushing defeat in the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections had already signalled that its political capital was eroding rapidly.

Critics argue that AAP, which built its brand on anti-corruption politics and citizen empowerment, has struggled to maintain internal democracy — the very values it once weaponised against rivals. The departure of Swati Maliwal, who had publicly accused a senior Kejriwal aide of assault, added credibility to concerns about the party's internal culture.

For BJP, absorbing seven Rajya Sabha MPs is a strategic gain that strengthens its numbers in the Upper House, where it has historically needed coalition support to pass key legislation.

What This Means for AAP and Indian Politics

With only 3 Rajya Sabha MPs remaining, AAP's Upper House group is now effectively decimated. The party loses its formal group status, which could further limit its ability to raise issues, demand votes, or influence legislative proceedings.

For Raghav Chadha personally, the move marks a dramatic pivot. Once considered among the most articulate young faces of the AAP movement, his defection to BJP represents one of the most significant individual political realignments in recent memory.

What Happens Next

The formal merger process will require submission of documentation to the Rajya Sabha Chairperson, after which the group will be officially recognised as part of the BJP parliamentary party in the Upper House. Legal challenges from AAP are possible but unlikely to succeed given the constitutional two-thirds threshold has been met. All eyes will now be on Arvind Kejriwal's response and whether AAP can stabilise its remaining parliamentary presence before the next round of state elections.