A major political shift took place on Friday as several Rajya Sabha members from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) resigned and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi. Among those who switched sides were Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, and Sandeep Pathak. The leaders formally joined the BJP in the presence of party chief Nitin Nabin at the party office.

The development marks a significant setback for AAP in the Rajya Sabha. Chadha, Mittal, and Pathak were seen receiving bouquets from Nabin and greeting other BJP leaders during the joining ceremony. Their move comes shortly after internal changes within AAP, including Chadha’s removal as the Deputy Leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha. He was replaced by Mittal in that role. However, Mittal also resigned soon after and joined the BJP along with Chadha and Pathak.

Earlier in the day, Chadha announced his resignation from AAP, a party that was formed on an anti-corruption platform in 2012. He revealed that six other AAP MPs had also decided to leave the party and merge with the BJP. The collective move follows constitutional provisions that allow such a merger when supported by a required number of members.

Speaking to reporters, Chadha explained the legal basis of their decision. "As per the Constitution, two-thirds of the total MPs of a party can merge with another party. We have submitted a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan in this regard today, along with all the required documents," Chadha told reporters.

With this shift, seven out of ten AAP Rajya Sabha MPs have now moved to the BJP. This leaves only three AAP representatives in the Upper House, significantly weakening the party’s presence there. The remaining MPs include Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahney.

The sudden shift highlights internal changes within AAP and reflects ongoing political realignments. The fact that key leaders like Chadha and Mittal, who held important roles within the party, decided to leave and join the BJP adds weight to the development. The move also underlines the BJP’s growing strength in the Rajya Sabha as it absorbs a significant number of opposition MPs.

This transition did not happen in isolation. It followed recent developments within AAP’s leadership structure in the Upper House. Chadha’s removal as Deputy Leader and Mittal’s appointment were seen as important changes. However, both leaders eventually exited the party, suggesting deeper issues within the organisation. Pathak’s inclusion in the shift further strengthens the group that moved together.

The MPs stated that they have followed the required constitutional process. Their letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, C. P. Radhakrishnan, was submitted along with the necessary documents to formalise the merger. This step ensures that their move is legally valid under parliamentary rules.

Overall, the development reshapes the political balance in the Rajya Sabha. AAP now faces a reduced presence, while the BJP gains additional support. The coming days may reveal further reactions from both parties as this shift continues to draw attention in national politics.