Raghav Chadha joins BJP; says he felt like ‘right man in wrong party’ in the AAP

Former AAP leader Raghav Chadha has announced that he is joining the BJP.

MPs Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, former AAP members, have also quit the party to join the BJP in a major blow to the party. All three served as Rajya Sabha members from the Aam Aadmi Party since 2022. 

In a press conference Chadha said, "We have decided that we, the 2/3rd members belonging to the AAP in Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP."

There were 10 AAP members in the Rajya Sabha. The two-third members Chadha is referring to include MPs Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta and Vikramjit Singh Sahney who are also reportedly quitting the AAP and joining BJP.

“The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals."

The party is no longer working for the country or in the national interest, but for personal gain. Many of you have been telling me this for the past few years, and I too have personally felt that I am the right man in the wrong party. I repeat, ‘I am the right man in the wrong party.’ Therefore, today I announce that I am distancing myself from the Aam Aadmi Party and going to the people," Chadha said.

The development comes after Chadha was demoted by the AAP three weeks ago as the deputy leader of the Upper House of the Parliament. Asok Mittal was chosen as the replacement for the post.

The party accused him of refusing to criticise the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and engaging in "soft PR." Chadha however defended himself saying he raised the people's issues all four years he served in the Rajya Sabha.