Raghav Chadha’s Clean ‘Sweep’ To Boost For BJP: Key Takeaways From The Major AAP-Set For Kejriwal

Raghav Chadha, 6 MPs Quit AAP: Bypassing of Anti-Defection Law using merger provision to a low for AAP and more power for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha, a look at the key takeaways

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal with Sanjay Singh (centre) and Raghav Chadha (left). (PTI File)

In what is being seen as massive jolt to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and six other MPs, quit the party.

Along with Raghav Chadha, the group includes prominent MPs such as Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal.

Addressing the press conference, Chadha said that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs have quit the party and will join the BJP as a faction.

Raghav Chadha, 6 MPs Quit AAP: The Leaders Who Left Arvind Kejriwal

Chadha cited disillusionment with the AAP, stating the party had “deviated from its principles” and described himself as a “right man in the wrong party”. The fallout escalated after AAP leadership stripped Chadha of his deputy leadership role on April 2, and requested the Rajya Sabha Secretariat not to allot him speaking time.

TAKEAWAY NO. 1: Anti-Defection Law Bypassed?

To avoid disqualification under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law), the defecting MPs are utilising the “merger” provision.

Under the 91st Constitutional Amendment (2003), members can avoid disqualification only if at least two-thirds of a party’s legislative unit decides to merge with another party.

Raghav Chadha News Live Updates HERE

Before this move, the AAP held 10 seats in the Rajya Sabha. By having 7 out of 10 MPs (more than 66%) join the BJP, the group meets the legal threshold to maintain their seats as BJP members without triggering a by-election.

TAKEAWAY NO. 2: BJP to get boost in Rajya Sabha

The mass defection significantly alters the power balance in the Upper House:

The addition of 7 MPs directly boosts the BJP’s tally, bringing the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) closer to a definitive majority in the Rajya Sabha.

• BJP Individual Tally: 113 MPs (Increased from 106)
• NDA Alliance Tally: 148 MPs (Increased from 141)
• Majority Mark: 123 (in a 245-member house)

With these increased numbers, the BJP-led government is better positioned to pass critical or controversial legislation, such as the Waqf Amendment Bill, which had previously faced stiff opposition in the Upper House.

TAKEAWAY NO. 3: Trouble for AAP?

AAP’s presence in the Rajya Sabha has been effectively hollowed out, losing the vast majority of its representation and its most recognisable national voices.

TAKEAWAY NO. 4: Punjab election fight to intensify

While the presence of Chadha, who was the architect of AAP’s win in previous Punjab assembly elections, is bound to help the BJP, which is looking to go solo in the 2027 polls, it will mean a major political rejig for the AAP and force a major bounceback in a short period of time.

With indications that more Punjab leaders may join the BJP, the AAP and its face in Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, could even be staring at a major crisis.

With agency inputs

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