Raghav Chadha, six AAP MPs join BJP in Rajya Sabha shake-up

In a significant political development in India, prominent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha has, along with six other party members of parliament, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking a major realignment in the country’s upper house of parliament.

The move, announced on Saturday, effectively reduces AAP’s presence in the Rajya Sabha from 10 members to just three, dealing a serious blow to the opposition party’s parliamentary strength and influence.

According to the announcement, Chadha and the other MPs have not simply defected individually but have instead declared a “merger” with the ruling BJP. This collective shift allows them to bypass provisions under India’s anti-defection law, which typically penalises lawmakers for switching parties. However, the law permits such a move if at least two-thirds of a party’s legislators agree to merge with another political outfit.

The development comes just weeks after Chadha was removed from his position as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, signalling growing internal tensions within AAP’s parliamentary wing.

Political observers say the timing of the move is particularly significant, coming ahead of the 2027 state elections in Punjab, a key stronghold for AAP. The shift is expected to reshape political dynamics in the region, where the party had previously enjoyed strong grassroots support.

The merger was publicly acknowledged in the presence of senior BJP leadership, with party officials welcoming the new entrants and describing the development as a strengthening of parliamentary stability for the ruling bloc.

The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now stands to further consolidate its influence in the upper house, where numbers often play a crucial role in passing legislation.

The opposition, meanwhile, has reacted with concern, viewing the development as a setback for multi-party balance in parliament. Analysts suggest the mass shift could trigger further political realignments ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.

While AAP has yet to issue a detailed response, the exit of seven MPs is being seen as one of the most significant organisational challenges the party has faced in recent years.

The development reflects the increasingly fluid nature of Indian parliamentary politics, where strategic mergers and defections continue to reshape party strength and legislative equations at the national level.