India
oi-Prakash KL
In a dramatic political development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a major setback after two-thirds of its Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha announced their decision to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Senior AAP leaders Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal confirmed the move at a press conference on Friday, stating that seven out of the party’s ten Rajya Sabha MPs had backed the merger.
Seven out of ten Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MPs announced on Friday their decision to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move confirmed by senior AAP leaders, constituting a major setback for the party.
“We have decided that we, the two-thirds members belonging to the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, will exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge with the BJP,” Chadha said. He added that the supporting MPs include Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Swati Maliwal. The group has reportedly submitted the required documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
The announcement triggered sharp reactions from AAP leaders and opposition parties. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly criticised the defecting MPs, calling them “traitors” who do not represent the people of Punjab. He alleged that the BJP systematically weakens parties it allies with and accused it of betraying the state.
“The BJP finishes every party it aligns with. The people of Punjab stand firmly with us and support our development agenda,” Mann said, adding that the defectors would gain little from their move.
Echoing similar sentiments, AAP leader Anurag Dhandha said the development had exposed the character of the leaders involved. He expressed confidence that the party would return to power in Punjab under Mann’s leadership and that voters would respond decisively.
The political fallout extended beyond AAP, with senior Indian National Congress leader Ashok Gehlot launching a broadside against the BJP. He accused the ruling party of “undermining democracy” and misusing investigative agencies to pressure opposition leaders.
“The entire country is watching. There is a perception that leaders are being coerced or enticed into switching sides,” Gehlot said, while also referring to previous political realignments involving parties such as the Shiv Sena (UBT) and factions linked to Sharad Pawar.
Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal suggested that fear and political expediency often drive such defections. “Some people compromise or get intimidated and choose to join the BJP,” he remarked.
The episode marks one of the most significant internal ruptures for AAP at the national level, raising questions about party unity and the evolving political landscape ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
