New Delhi: In a dramatic political realignment, the strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Rajya Sabha has risen to 113 after the Chairman approved the merger of seven MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party, dealing a severe setback to the opposition outfit.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan has formally cleared the merger under constitutional provisions. He welcomed the incoming MPs, expressing confidence that they would contribute to governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chadha Leads Mass Defection
At the centre of the upheaval is Raghav Chadha, who announced that more than two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs had backed the split and submitted formal letters to the Chairman.
“We, the two-thirds members of AAP in the Rajya Sabha, have decided to merge with the BJP,” Chadha declared, flanked by fellow MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Kumar Mittal.
Among those joining the BJP are prominent names including Swati Maliwal and Harbhajan Singh, along with Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney. The exodus has reduced AAP’s strength in the Upper House to just three MPs.
Delhi: On Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and six other MPs quitting the AAP and joining the BJP, CM Rekha Gupta says, “I welcome all the seven MPs who have joined the BJP.” pic.twitter.com/iVV5ZNdRoy
— IANS (@ians_india) April 27, 2026
From Rift to Revolt
The mass defection follows days of internal friction within AAP, triggered after Chadha was removed as the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. The move was widely seen as the flashpoint of a deeper power struggle within the party.
Chadha had publicly criticised the leadership, questioning restrictions on raising public-interest issues and alleging curbs on his participation in parliamentary debates.
In a twist highlighting the scale of the rebellion, Mittal—who had replaced Chadha as deputy leader—has now joined the breakaway group.
AAP’s Crisis, BJP’s Strategic Gain
The development marks one of the biggest setbacks for the AAP since its rise under Arvind Kejriwal. Once considered part of Kejriwal’s core leadership, Chadha’s exit signals a major rupture within the party.
With AAP’s parliamentary presence sharply reduced, questions are mounting over its internal cohesion and future strategy.
For the BJP, however, the merger is both symbolic and strategic—further consolidating its position in the Upper House while capitalising on divisions within a key opposition party.
As the political dust settles, all eyes are now on AAP’s next move—and whether this high-voltage split triggers further shifts in India’s parliamentary landscape.
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