'Who Approved?' AAP's Sanjay Singh Seeks Clarification Over BJP Tag For Raghav Chadha, 6 Others In Rajya Sabha Record

New Delhi: After the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a major blow since seven of its MPs, including Raghav Chadha, switched over to the BJP, party MP Sanjay Singh has penned a letter to the Secretary-General of the Upper House, raising concerns that AAP’s status in Rajya Sabha documents and publications had been altered without prior intimation or approval from the party leadership. 

The issue flared up as Raghav Chadha and six others were already tagged as BJP leaders in the records, days before they jumped ship to the saffron party. Chadha and the other new entrants have maintained that they can legally “merge” into the BJP, since they already have the required two-thirds strength of the AAP's Rajya Sabha members. 

Call For Urgent Clarification

Sanjay Singh sought urgent clarification from the Rajya Sabha Secretary-General over alleged “unauthorised” changes made to the party’s position in official parliamentary records. In his letter, Singh highlighted that the changes were carried out “unilaterally” without the concurrence of the party or its floor leader in the House.

The senior AAP leader also questioned the basis on which AAP’s party position was allegedly altered and sought details regarding the authority that had approved such changes.

In his letter, Singh has asked the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to clarify:

1. On what date and on what basis has the party position of the Aam Aadmi Party been altered in the records and publications of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat?
2. Which is the competent authority that has approved or sanctioned such alteration? What are the specific reasons recorded thereof?
3. Is there any written order, direction, office memorandum, or any other document authorising rising such alteration? If so, why has this not been communicated to the Aap Aadmi Party or to me in my capacity as the Floor Leader?
4. In the absence of any consultation, what procedure was adopted prior to effecting such alteration?
5. What is the current official party position of the Aam Aadmi Party as recorded in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, including the number of Members shown under the party's name and the floor leader designation?

Request For All Copies Of Such Orders

The AAP MP has called for an “immediate inquiry” into the matter and has sought a “written response at the earliest". He has also requested copies of all relevant orders, directions, and communications that formed the basis for the alleged changes.

Further, in his communication, Singh has also warned that any arbitrary or unexplained alteration in party position without due procedure could have serious implications “on the rights of the party and its Members” and raise “grave questions of procedural irregularity.” 

The letter has been marked to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party.

The High Profile Exodus

Raghav Chadha, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, resigned from AAP and joined the BJP on April 24 (Friday), a move that has sent shockwaves across the Opposition bloc amid the ongoing assembly elections. 

The exodus which is one of the most significant internal ruptures in the Arvind Kejriwal run party in recent years, is seen by political observers as a major gain for the BJP and a huge blow to the AAP, especially ahead of the Punjab elections, the only state where it is in power.

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