AAP Rift? Raghav Chadha Claims 2/3rd of Party’s Rajya Sabha MPs Seek Merger with BJP

In a dramatic political development, Raghav Chadha on Friday claimed that two-thirds of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha said the group has formally submitted documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman invoking constitutional provisions related to party mergers.

⚖️ The Claim and Its Implications

According to Chadha:

• AAP has 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha
• 7 MPs (more than two-thirds) are supporting the merger
• A signed letter has been submitted to the Chairman

If verified, such a move could fall under provisions of the anti-defection law, where a merger supported by at least two-thirds of legislators can be legally recognised without disqualification.

📋 MPs Named in the Alleged Split

Chadha listed the following MPs as part of the group:

• Raghav Chadha
• Sandeep Pathak
• Ashok Mittal
• Harbhajan Singh
• Rajinder Gupta
• Vikramjit Singh Sahney
• Swati Maliwal

These names include a mix of politicians, industrialists, and public figures who entered Parliament via AAP.

🧭 Missing Pieces & Unanswered Questions

Despite the scale of the claim, several key aspects remain unclear:

• No official confirmation yet from Aam Aadmi Party leadership
• No public response from Arvind Kejriwal
• No formal acknowledgment yet from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat
• The BJP has not issued an official statement confirming acceptance of such a merger

⚠️ Political and Legal Significance

If true, this would be one of the largest parliamentary shifts involving AAP since its formation. It could:

• Reduce AAP’s strength significantly in the Rajya Sabha
• Strengthen BJP numerically in the Upper House
• Trigger legal scrutiny under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law)

However, until verified by parliamentary authorities, the development remains a claim made at a press conference.

🧠 Context

AAP has emerged as a major regional force over the past decade, especially in Delhi and Punjab. Any internal split at the parliamentary level would have major political consequences, both nationally and within the party structure.

🧾 Bottom Line

The announcement by Raghav Chadha signals a potentially major political shift—but confirmation from official institutions and party leadership is still awaited. Given the scale of the claim, further developments are expected soon.