‘Right Man In Wrong Party’: Raghav Chadha’s Big Jolt To AAP, Breaks Away With 6 MPs To Join BJP

Breaking: Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak on Friday quit AAP and joined the BJP in a big jolt to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. At a joint press conference, along with Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Raghav Chadha said, "We have decided that we, the two-thirds members of the AAP in Rajya Sabha, will exercise the provisions of the Indian Constitution and merge with the BJP."

Raghav Chadha, Ashok Kumar Mittal, and Sandeep Pathak have been Rajya Sabha members for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) since 2022. 

Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal will meet the BJP president Nitin Nabin at 5 pm.

Why Raghav Chadha Left AAP? 

Raghav Chadha said, “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.”

“We, two-thirds of the Members of Parliament belonging to the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha, will exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)” he added. 

Who are the Other 6 MPs Who Quit AAP? 

In a joint press conference, Raghav Chadha announced all the six names who have decided to quit AAP and join BJP. Here are the six names: 

1. Ashok Mittal
2. Sandeep Pathak
3. Harbhajan Singh
4. Vikram Sahney
5. Swati Maliwal
6. Rajendra Gupta

The Aam Aadmi Party had total 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, including seven from Punjab and three from Delhi. However, now 7 including Raghav Chadha have decided to quit AAP, and join Bharatiya Janta Party(BJP). 

Why this Sudden Move? 

This move comes after the AAP, on April 2, removed Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. The party has accused him of avoiding strong criticism of Narendra Modi and the Centre, alleging that he was engaging in “soft PR” instead of forcefully raising issues in Parliament.

However, Chadha dismissed the allegations as “lies” and maintained that his focus has always been on public issues. He said he went to Parliament to raise people’s concerns and not to create ruckus. Since his removal, he has continued to post videos and statements on social media, signalling that he does not intend to accept the decision quietly.

Earlier this month, Chadha also shared a video on Instagram titled “Voice Raised Price Paid”, a compilation of clips showing him raising various issues in Parliament. Responding to criticism, he said, “With due respect, to those who are questioning my parliamentary performance, I will let my work do the talking.”

The party then announced Ashok Mittal as the new deputy leader. 

Raghav Chadha Role In Aam Aadmi Party

Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, has been associated with the AAP since its inception. He began his political career working with Arvind Kejriwal on the Delhi Lokpal Bill in 2012. He rose quickly within the party, becoming a national spokesperson and later its youngest treasurer after AAP’s victory in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections.

He contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from South Delhi but lost to Ramesh Bidhuri. He later won the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections from Rajendra Nagar and served as vice-chairman of the Delhi Jal Board.

In 2022, Chadha became the youngest Rajya Sabha MP at the age of 33 and has since played a key role in the party’s parliamentary and organisational affairs, working alongside leaders like Manish Sisodia and Bhagwant Mann. In 2023, AAP designated him as its leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Sanjay Singh.