Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal...Who Are The 7 MPs Who Dumped AAP For BJP?

New Delhi: In a huge jolt to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), seven MPs have resigned from the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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

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

Notably, 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.

Raghav Chadha's Internal Rift With AAP

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha's resignation comes after AAP demoted him and removed him from the post of AAP deputy leader in the Upper House of the Parliament amidst an internal rift between him and the party.

While resigning, 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. 

Ashok Mittal's Shocking Resignation

Ashok Mittal's resignation comes as as shock since it was him who was chose by AAP to replace Raghav Chadha as the party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. Notably, after the change in leadership, Mittal had silenced the voices who claimed that Chadha would join BJP. Calling him a “senior leader” of AAP, Mittal had said, "AAP is a democratic party and believes in giving opportunities to different leaders to raise important issues."

Notably, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had conducted raids on the properties of Mittal recently.

Swati Maliwal's Rough Past With AAP

In 2024, Swati Maliwal had alleged that she was assaulted at then CM Arvind Kejriwal's official residence in Delhi by his close aide Bibhav Kumar. She had claimed that she was slapped several times and was kicked in the chest and stomach area.

Harbhajan Singh

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh had joined AAP after retiring from international cricket. He entered the Parliament in 2022, after being nominated by AAP to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.

He is now set to join the BJP.

15-18 Punjab AAP MLAs Unhappy With Party

According to sources, as many as 15 to 18 AAP MLAs in Punjab are unhappy with the party and are in touch with various political parties.

These MLAs were warned by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on April 16 as he held a closed-door meeting with party MLAs and ministers at the PAP Complex in Jalandhar.