The Number Game: After Mass Defection, Who Remains With AAP In Parliament?

Chandigarh: A huge political earthquake shook India on Friday as many Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs resigned from the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just hours later. Following the defection, here is a look at the number game in the Rajya Sabha:

The Aam Aadmi Party had total 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, including seven from Punjab and three from Delhi. Following the defection, only three AAP MPs are left in the House.

Which AAP MPs Resigned?

Here is the list of the 7 MPs who have defected:

1. Raghav Chadha (Punjab)
2. Ashok Mittal (Punjab) 
3. Sandeep Pathak (Punjab)
4. Harbhajan Singh (Punjab)
5. Vikram Sahney (Punjab)
6. Swati Maliwal (Delhi)
7. Rajendra Gupta (Punjab)

Which AAP MPs Are Left In Rajya Sabha?

Following the defection, three AAP MPs are now left in the Rajya Sabha:

1. Narain Dass Gupta (Delhi)
2. Balbir Singh Seechewal (Punjab)
3. Sanjay Singh (Delhi)

How Many AAP MPs Are Left In Parliament?

Apart from the three MPs in the Rajya Sabha, AAP has three MPs in the Lok Sabha, taking the total count of the party's MPs in the Parliament to six.

Here is the list of AAP MPs in Lok Sabha:

1. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (Sangrur)
2. Raj Kumar Chabbewal (Hoshiarpur)
3. Malvinder Singh Kang (Anandpur Sahib)

BJP Inches Near Majority In Rajya Sabha?

The seven MPs who left AAP have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Raghav Chadha said are "merging" with BJP. He claimed a signed letter invoking constitutional provisions had already been submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman earlier in the day to formalise the move.

However, Chadha's plan can be challenged by the anti-defection law enshrined in the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (introduced by the 52nd Amendment in 1985 and later amended).

If the ‘merger’ is cleared, BJP's number in the Rajya Sabha will increase from 106 to 113. Notably, this would lead the BJP too close to the majority mark in the Rajya Sabha. The majority mark in the 244-member House is 123. Hence, if the ‘merger’ is approved, BJP will be just be 10 seats short of touching the majority.

Also Read- AAP Rebel MPs Formally Join BJP, Welcomed With Flowers & Sweets At Delhi Headquarters