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Delhi/ Chandigarh: In a swift and dramatic political development, minutes after announcing their decision to break away from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), senior leaders Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national headquarters in New Delhi to formally seal their entry into the party.

The trio, along with four other MPs, invoked constitutional provisions to justify their move, claiming that more than two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha members had agreed to merge with the BJP, thereby making the defection legally tenable under anti-defection norms.

Two-Thirds Bloc Claim and Formal Submission

Addressing the media, Chadha said that seven MPs had signed the merger document, which has been submitted to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. “I, along with two other MPs, personally handed over the signed documents,” he said, reiterating that the move was both constitutional and collective.

The seven MPs forming this bloc include Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney and Harbhajan Singh, in addition to Chadha, Pathak and Mittal.

With this, AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha has effectively been reduced to just three MPs—Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta and Balbir Singh Seechewal—marking a major setback for the party at the national level.

Meeting BJP Leadership

Sources indicated that Chadha, Pathak and Mittal are holding discussions with senior BJP leaders, including BL Santosh and Tarun Chugh, at the party headquarters to formalise their induction and future roles within the organisation.

The move is expected to boost BJP’s numbers in the Rajya Sabha, strengthening its legislative position in the Upper House.

Political Fallout and Sharp Reactions

The defection has triggered sharp reactions within AAP. Senior leader Sanjay Singh reportedly termed Chadha a “traitor”, highlighting the deepening internal rift within the party. Chadha, however, declined to respond to the remark when questioned by reporters.

The development marks one of the most significant political realignments involving AAP since its inception, with immediate implications for parliamentary arithmetic as well as the broader Opposition landscape.