Seven Rebel AAP MPs Join BJP, Says Kiren Rijiju, Calls It Exit From ‘Tukde-Tukde’ INDI Alliance
Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan Accepts Merger; Kiren Rijiju Welcomes Move as AAP Cries Foul
NEW DELHI, Apr 27: In a significant political development, the AAP MPs merge with BJP move was formally recognised on Monday after Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan approved the merger of seven Members of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party into the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The decision has sharply altered the balance in the Upper House, reducing the strength of the AAP to just three MPs, while the BJP’s tally has risen to 113, further consolidating the ruling alliance’s position.
MPs Who Switched Sides
The seven parliamentarians who are now part of the BJP Parliamentary Party include Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Vikramjit Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta.
Following the transition, official records on the Rajya Sabha website have been updated to reflect their new political affiliation.
Impact on Punjab and Delhi Representation
The merger has had a notable impact on state-wise representation. In Punjab, where seven MPs represent the state in the Rajya Sabha, six are now aligned with the BJP, leaving just one with the AAP.
In Delhi, the AAP retains two MPs—Sanjay Singh and N. D. Gupta—while Swati Maliwal is now counted among BJP members.
Formal Process and Approval
Sources indicated that the seven MPs had submitted a petition to the Rajya Sabha Chairman last week, requesting recognition as BJP members following their decision to merge. The Chairman’s approval effectively validated the shift under constitutional provisions governing legislative party mergers.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju welcomed the development, stating that the MPs had chosen to align with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under the leadership of Narendra Modi.
Rijiju also noted that the MPs had maintained parliamentary decorum and described their move as a departure from what he termed the “Tukde-Tukde INDI Alliance.”
AAP Challenges the Move
The Aam Aadmi Party has strongly opposed the development, calling the merger “unconstitutional.” Party leader Sanjay Singh confirmed that a petition has been filed with the Chairman seeking disqualification of the seven MPs under anti-defection provisions.
The party argued that the lawmakers’ decision violates the mandate under which they were elected and has sought termination of their membership in the Upper House.
Background to the Split
The political shift follows a dramatic exit by the seven MPs, who last week announced their resignation from the AAP, alleging that the party led by Arvind Kejriwal had deviated from its founding principles and core values.
Raghav Chadha had earlier stated that more than two-thirds of the AAP’s Rajya Sabha members supported the merger, a key requirement under constitutional provisions to avoid disqualification.
