In a dramatic political development, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha announced his resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday, accusing the party of falling into the hands of corrupt individuals. Speaking at a press conference, Chadha revealed that seven out of AAP's ten Rajya Sabha MPs are backing a merger with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking one of the most significant internal fractures within AAP in recent times.
Raghav Chadha's Statement
Chadha, a founding member of AAP, expressed deep disappointment, stating that the party had strayed from its founding ideals. "The party, which was formed with a pledge to end corruption, is now deeply trapped in the hands of corrupt and compromised individuals," he said. He added that every patriotic person who joined AAP to serve the nation has either already left or is leaving the party one by one.
Chadha praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, citing decisive governance and strong national leadership as key reasons for his decision. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has taken several strong decisions that earlier leaders were perhaps hesitant to take, whether it is uprooting terrorism or bringing India among the top global economies," he remarked.
Exodus of MPs
The political shake-up extends beyond Chadha. Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, along with other MPs including Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney, and Swati Maliwal, have also exited AAP. Chadha noted that the supporting MPs have signed the required documents, which were submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman earlier in the day. The move invokes constitutional provisions for merging with the BJP.
AAP's Reaction
In response, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of launching 'Operation Lotus', describing it as "a game of cheap politics and an attempt to obstruct the good work of the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab on a large scale." The term 'Operation Lotus' is historically used to describe the BJP's alleged strategy of engineering defections from rival parties.
Broader Implications
This development is seen as a major setback for AAP, which had built a strong presence in Punjab and Delhi. Chadha assured his constituents that his commitment to raising public issues would remain unchanged despite the shift in political affiliation. "To those who felt disappointed that, as a Member of Parliament, I might not be able to raise the issues of ordinary citizens because my own party had silenced my voice, I want to assure them not to worry. I will continue to raise all your issues with the same commitment, enthusiasm, and energy," he said.
The merger marks one of the most notable internal fractures within AAP in recent times, with seven out of ten Rajya Sabha MPs leaving the party. The political landscape in Punjab and at the national level is expected to see significant shifts as a result.
