Major Setback for AAP as Seven Rajya Sabha MPs, Including Raghav Chadha and ex-international cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Join BJP

In a significant political development, seven out of ten Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party have reportedly defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party, dealing a major blow to the party’s presence in the Upper House.

Among those who switched sides is prominent leader Raghav Chadha, making the development particularly consequential. The scale of the defection—constituting two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha strength—could allow the move to qualify as a merger under anti-defection provisions, potentially protecting the MPs from disqualification.

The shift significantly alters parliamentary dynamics, strengthening the BJP’s position while weakening AAP’s influence at the national level. Reports suggest internal disagreements and strategic differences within AAP may have contributed to the split, although the party has accused the BJP of orchestrating the defections.

This development marks one of the biggest political setbacks for AAP in recent times and is expected to have far-reaching implications for its national strategy and future electoral positioning.