AAP seeks disqualification of 7 Rajya Sabha MPs who joined BJP, calls move ‘betrayal of Punjab’

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has moved a petition before the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Vice President, CP Radhakrishnan, seeking the disqualification of seven of its MPs who recently joined the BJP. Terming their move a “betrayal of the people of Punjab,” AAP leader Sanjay Singh said on Sunday.

In a major political setback to the party, seven out of AAP’s 10 Rajya Sabha members joined the BJP on April 24.

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Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Sanjay Singh, Leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha, stated that constitutional experts believe the disqualification of these MPs is inevitable. He asserted that their actions amount not only to a betrayal of the AAP but also of the people of Punjab, democracy, and the Constitution.

The AAP MP alleged that the BJP has institutionalised the politics of defections by using central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to pressure opposition leaders before inducting them into the party.

Singh further claimed that leading constitutional experts and senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal and P. D. T. Achary, have indicated that the membership of all seven MPs who merged with the BJP after leaving AAP is liable to be terminated.

“Even a Supreme Court lawyer associated with an NDA constituent had said during a media interaction on Saturday that their membership would go in any case,” he added.

Elaborating on the petition, Singh said, “After consulting experts and seeking legal opinion, I have submitted a petition to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. It requests that under the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, the membership of all seven MPs be terminated. I have urged that the matter be heard at the earliest and a just decision be delivered.”

He termed the defections as a “serious threat to democratic values,” adding, “Leaders elected on a party’s mandate are being coerced through misuse of agencies and then absorbed into another party. This is a betrayal of democracy, the people of Punjab, and the Constitution itself.”

Singh also stated that if elected representatives have ideological differences, they should resign before switching parties. “Those elected by the party’s MLAs are now speaking against the same party. I am confident that the Chairman will take a prompt decision and cancel their membership,” he said.

Highlighting the legal framework, Singh pointed out that several Supreme Court judgments and the Tenth Schedule clearly prohibit such defections.

Responding to concerns about delays in legal proceedings, he said, “There have been precedents in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh where the Supreme Court intervened in similar cases. While delays can be disappointing, we will pursue this legal battle. The Constitution must prevail.”

He further claimed that there is strong public resentment in Punjab against the defecting MPs. “People are protesting across the state. Any claims that Punjab MLAs are in touch with these MPs or planning to switch sides are baseless and part of a misinformation campaign,” he said.

“There is widespread anger against those who have betrayed the party and Punjab. When their own membership is under threat, no MLA would risk disqualification by joining them. This is merely propaganda to create confusion,” Singh added.