BJP ‘once again shoved Punjabis’: Arvind Kejriwal hits out as Raghav Chadha quits AAP, set to join saffron party

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of undermining Punjab’s political mandate, saying the party had “once again given Punjabis a shove,” moments after senior leader Raghav Chadha resigned from AAP and moved to merge with the BJP in a significant political shift.


Chadha’s exit, coupled with the likely defection of a majority of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs, threatens to substantially weaken the party’s strength in the Upper House and marks one of the biggest internal ruptures since its formation.


Also read: Raghav Chadha to join BJP along with 2/3rds of AAP Rajya Sabha members, including Harbhajan Singh

Announcing his decision, Chadha said the AAP had drifted from its founding ideals, offering a sharp critique of the party leadership. “Purane AAP wohi AAP nahi rahi,” he said, describing the party as “corrupt and compromised,” and adding, “I was a right man in a wrong party.”

The fallout had been building for weeks. Earlier this month, Chadha was removed as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, a move widely seen as signalling a breakdown in relations between him and the party’s top leadership.

The development has now triggered a broader realignment within AAP’s parliamentary ranks. Around two-thirds of its Rajya Sabha MPs, approximately seven members, are set to back Chadha’s switch to the BJP. Those expected to join include Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and Rajinder Gupta.

Raghav Chadha quits AAP: What happens next?

Once among AAP’s most prominent young faces and central to its national expansion plans, Chadha had played a key role in building the party’s presence beyond Delhi and Punjab. His departure, along with the anticipated exodus of senior MPs, underscores deepening internal divisions within the party.

Also read: Raghav Chadha joins BJP: Can he be disqualified from Rajya Sabha? What the anti-defection law says

For the BJP, the shift is expected to bolster its numbers and influence in the Rajya Sabha, while delivering a significant setback to a key opposition party.

Reacting to the defections, AAP leaders accused the BJP of orchestrating a wider campaign to destabilise opposition parties. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the move was part of “Operation Lotus,” describing it as an attempt to obstruct the work of the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab.

“Seven MPs were entrusted with major responsibilities. They have stabbed Punjab in the back,” Singh said, addressing a press conference after the mass defection was announced.