Dissident Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha lawmaker Raghav Chadha announced his exit from the party on Friday, while also confirming his decision to join the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a press briefing in New Delhi, Chadha said he, along with AAP Rajya Sabha MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, have switched over to the BJP. Additionally, four other AAP lawmakers — Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal — will be joining the saffron party as well, he added.
This would result in seven out of the 10 AAP MPs in the Parliament's Upper House changing their sides. Since their count is higher than the party's two-third Rajya Sabha strength, the anti-defection law is unlikely to be applied.
"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," he said.
According to Chadha, his decision to quit the AAP was driven by the party's deviation from its "principles". The party, he alleged, is working with the agenda of "personal benefits" rather than putting the interests of the country at the forefront.
"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 am the right man in the wrong party. So, today, we announce that I am distancing myself from the AAP and getting close to public," he said.
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Rajya Sabha Demotion
Chadha was removed by AAP as its deputy leader in Rajya Sabha on April 2. The 37-year-old, who held the position since 2003, was replaced with Punjab MP Ashok Mittal. This came amid growing speculations of his rift with the party's top brass, including AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and senior leader Manish Sisodia.
The speculations gained momentum after Chadha was seen as silent following Kejriwal and Sisodia's acquittal in the liquor policy case in February. The rift became evident after he skipped high-profile events, such as Kejriwal's press conference and the Jantar Mantar 'jan sabha' where the AAP chief launched a scathing attack on the BJP.
Notably, Chadha raised several civic issues in the Rajya Sabha in early 2026, focusing on consumer rights, middle-class relief, and social reforms, which gained citizens' attention. Key topics included demanding paternity leave as a legal right, opposing bank penalties for low minimum balances, and highlighting high food prices at airports.
Since joining the party in 2012, the chartered accountant-turned-politician has been a mainstay in Kejriwal's camp. Chadha was involved in drafting the Delhi Lokpal Bill and the party manifesto in his initial years. He currently serves on the party's Political Affairs Committee, holds the post of national treasurer, and has played a pivotal role in liaising with the INDIA bloc.
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