AAP crisis deepens as Chadha, two MPs quit, cite ideological drift
In a major political development, Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak on Friday announced their exit from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), dealing a significant blow to Arvind Kejriwal.
Addressing a press conference, the leaders said they would merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming the support of two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs.
“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,” Chadha said.
‘Right man in the wrong party’
Explaining his decision, Chadha said he had distanced himself from party activities due to ideological differences.
“…I am telling you the real reason as to why I distanced myself from party activities. I did not want to be a part of their crimes. I was not eligible for their friendship because I was not a part of their crime. We had just two options – either quit politics and give up our public work in the last 15-16 years or we do positive politics with our energy and experience. So, 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,” he said.
He further added, “The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals. The party is no longer working for the country or in the national interest, but for personal gain. Many of you have been telling me this for the past few years, and I too have personally felt that I am the right man in the wrong party. I repeat, ‘I am the right man in the wrong party.’ Therefore, today I announce that I am distancing myself from the Aam Aadmi Party and going to the people.”
Claim of wider support
Chadha also claimed that several other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs were backing the move.
“There are 10 AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha, more than 2/3rd of them are with us in this. They have signed and this morning we submitted the signed letter and documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman… Three of them are here before you. Besides us, there are Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal,” he said.
Among those he named were Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta and Vikramjit Singh Sahney.
Background
Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak have been serving as Rajya Sabha MPs since 2022.
The AAP currently also has Lok Sabha representation from Punjab, including MPs Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Raj Kumar Chabbewal and Malwinder Singh Kang.
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