‘Party-hopping for selfish needs is against constitutional spirit’: Anna Hazare on Raghav Chadha’s break-up with AAP

Amid a major political churn triggered by Raghav Chadha and several other MPs joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday criticised the move, calling it a departure from democratic values.

Speaking on the development, Hazare said shifting political allegiance for personal interests is “not right” and goes against the spirit of public service. “Leaving one party and joining another is not right. Changing political parties for selfish needs is not the right thing. This is not mentioned in our Constitution. Our Constitution is supreme, and the country runs according to it,” he said.

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He stressed that elected representatives must act in line with constitutional principles and avoid decisions driven by individual gain.

#WATCH | Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra: On Raghav Chadha, along with 2/3 AAP Rajya Sabha MPs joining BJP, Social Activist Anna Hazare says, “Leaving one party and joining another party is not right… Changing political parties for our selfish needs is not the right thing. This is not… pic.twitter.com/BhJfjfx70h

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2026

Hazare’s remarks come at a time when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is grappling with one of its biggest internal crises. His comments carry weight given his early association with AAP’s origins. He was the face of the 2011 anti-corruption movement that led to the party’s formation, though he later distanced himself from electoral politics and from AAP leadership led by Arvind Kejriwal.

Chadha, other 6MPs split with AAP

The criticism follows a dramatic political move on Friday when Raghav Chadha, along with Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, announced their exit from AAP and joined the BJP.

Chadha said that he and six other Rajya Sabha MPs had formally informed the Chairman of the House about leaving the party, in line with procedural rules. The move effectively signals a merger of a significant section of AAP’s Upper House strength with the BJP.

The latest developments have intensified the political battle, with AAP preparing to challenge the defections legally while the BJP welcomes the incoming leaders. Hazare’s intervention adds a moral dimension to the debate, questioning the ethics of political realignments in the middle of a parliamentary term.