In the wake of a significant setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), senior leader Manish Sisodia met party convenor Arvind Kejriwal at his residence late at night in Delhi. The meeting took place after seven of the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs left AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sisodia had returned from Rajkot, where he was campaigning for the Gujarat municipal elections, and went directly from the airport to meet Kejriwal. Sources said the two leaders held detailed discussions for over half an hour on the political fallout and the party’s next course of action.
Internal rift preceded the split
The rupture within the party had been building over the past few weeks. Tensions became visible after Raghav Chadha was removed as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, following which several party leaders accused him of being soft towards the BJP.
Notably, Ashok Mittal, who replaced Chadha in that role, is among those who have now joined the BJP. Others who exited include former cricketer-turned-MP Harbhajan Singh, along with Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal.
The exit of seven MPs marks one of the biggest setbacks for AAP in the Rajya Sabha. The party is now attempting to manage both the legal battle and the political narrative, even as the BJP strengthens its position in the Upper House.
Strategy discussions amid deepening crisis
Party leaders are now engaged in internal deliberations to assess the impact of the split and chalk out a response strategy. The developments have triggered concern within AAP over its position in the Upper House and the broader political implications.
The crisis escalated after Raghav Chadha announced that he, along with six other MPs, had formally informed the Rajya Sabha Chairman of their decision to leave the party, in accordance with House rules.
AAP to seek action under anti-defection law
In response, AAP is preparing to take legal steps. Party sources said, “The chief whip in the Upper House, ND Gupta, will submit a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman against Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal.”
“Gupta’s letter will seek action as per the anti-defection law. These 3 leaders were seen in public joining the BJP. Rest four were not seen in the public domain, making that move. Hence, the chief whip will lodge the complaint against the three MPs seen in the BJP office.”
Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh has also said he will write to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, urging the disqualification of the MPs under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with defection.