From 10 to 3: Raghav Chadha leads AAP MPs to BJP, leaving Arvind Kejriwal with three loyalists; who are they?

Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP, on Friday announced that two-thirds of his party’s members in the Upper House — 7 out of 10 — have decided to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing “suffocation” and limited opportunities to serve the public within the outfit he co-founded with Arvind Kejriwal over a decade ago.

Several Rajya Sabha members, including Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal, are among those parting ways with the AAP.

Raghav Chadha led the push that dealt a significant blow to the party’s strength in Parliament. The party has now been reduced to just three members in the Rajya Sabha, taking its total tally in Parliament to six, including Lok Sabha members.


Also read: Hum AAP ke hain kaun! Why everyone leaves Arvind Kejriwal

Who remained loyal?

Sanjay Singh, the party’s spokesperson, has consistently been a prominent and vocal presence for AAP in Parliament. N. D. Gupta, a veteran chartered accountant, is an octogenarian leader closely associated with Arvind Kejriwal’s political journey.

Meanwhile, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, a noted environmentalist and Sikh leader from Punjab, continues to represent the party in the Rajya Sabha.

Also read: Raghav Chadha, 2 other AAP MPs formally join BJP after exiting Kejriwal's bloc

Sanjay Singh
Sanjay Singh, currently serving as a Member of the Rajya Sabha from Delhi. Has played a pivotal figure in the Aam Aadmi Party and he brings a blend of social activism and political leadership. In the parliament and on the streets his speeches critical of the BJP and Central Govt are widely popular among people. He was also included in the Delhi liquor policy case and was arrested by the ED in Oct 2023. After six months, he was granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Born in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to educated parents, Singh’s journey started with a diploma in Mining Engineering from Orissa School of Mining Engineering in Keonjhar.

Fueled by a passion for social service, Singh founded ‘Sultanpur Samaj Sewa Sangathan’ in 1994, dedicating 16 years to advocating for the rights of the underprivileged, especially hawkers. His commitment extended to organisations like ‘Azad Sewa Samiti,’ later part of the National Hawkers’ Association.

A key architect in the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party in 2012, Singh’s role dates back to his committee membership in Team Anna during the India Against Corruption movement. His advocacy also touched on environmental causes, notably the Clean Gomati River project.

Taking charge of the Punjab state unit during the 2017 Assembly elections, Singh propelled AAP to become the largest opposition party, securing the Leader of the Opposition role. His impact extended to civic polls in Uttar Pradesh. Elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2018, Singh’s leadership resonates with the public’s desire for political change.

Singh, a mechanical engineer, epitomizes AAP’s ethos—a platform for societal service amid discontent with traditional politics. His journey reflects a commitment to transforming the political landscape and serving the people.

ND Gupta
Narain Dass Gupta is a chartered accountant and a former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

As per AAP's website, Gupta has been contributing to the party’s fight against the Income Tax department’s onslaught on the party’s finances.

Gupta is the first ever Indian to be elected on the Board of International Federation of Accountants, U.S.A (a federation of 164 regulatory accounting bodies of 116 countries). He is an alumnus of prestigious educational institutions since passed B.Com (H) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Award for outstanding achievement in his sphere of activity thereby bringing honor to his Alma Mater which was given by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 30 November 2001. He has passed his CA examinations with distinction. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Delhi on 8 January, 2018.

Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal
Seechewal, also known as 'Eco Baba' is an environment activist credited with cleaning of 160-km long Kali Bein rivulet in Sultanpur Lodhi. He has been spearheading a river cleaning campaign in the state also and has assisted successive government in cleaning the Budda Nullah in Ludhiana. The environmentalist has also received Padma Shri for his work.

Seechewal earned global recognition for his environmental work, being named a ‘Hero of Environment’ by TIME magazine — a distinction that made him the only Indian and Asian to receive the honour at the time. He has also been awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions.

Nearly two decades ago, Seechewal, along with a small group of volunteers, undertook the challenging task of cleaning the heavily polluted Kali Bein — a 160-km tributary of the Beas and a river of historic significance linked to Guru Nanak. Through sustained grassroots efforts over a few years, he succeeded in restoring the river.

He also pioneered a low-cost underground sewage treatment system, widely known as the ‘Seechewal Model’, which naturally processes wastewater and repurposes it for agriculture and irrigation. The model has benefited around 50 villages, and the Government of India has explored its implementation for cleaning the Ganga as well.

(with TOI inputs)