New Delhi: In a major political development, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha has approved the merger of a breakaway group of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), significantly altering the numbers in the Upper House.
According to the development, seven Rajya Sabha MPs who had earlier split from AAP have now formally merged with the BJP following due approval from the Chairman. With this, BJP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha has increased to 113 members, while AAP’s tally has dropped sharply from 10 to just three MPs.
Sources indicate that the process was carried out strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions. Under the anti-defection framework, if at least two-thirds of members of a legislative party agree to merge with another party, such a move is considered valid and does not attract disqualification.
The seven MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Kumar Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Rajendra Gupta, had submitted a formal request to the Rajya Sabha Chairman seeking recognition as a separate group and subsequent merger with the BJP.
The Chairman’s office reportedly verified the applications, including signature authentication and compliance with procedural requirements available in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat records. After satisfying all legal and procedural conditions, the merger was granted approval.
Following this, the official list of Rajya Sabha members has been updated, with the seven former AAP MPs now reflected as part of the BJP parliamentary party.
This shift is being seen as politically significant, especially in the context of upcoming legislative business. A stronger BJP presence in the Rajya Sabha could prove advantageous in the passage of key bills. Observers also note that the development may have electoral implications, particularly in states like Punjab, where political narratives are closely watched.
Meanwhile, AAP is expected to explore legal options. The party has maintained that such a merger should be assessed based on the strength of the original party as a whole, not just within one House, and may challenge the decision through judicial scrutiny.
Reacting to the development, Raghav Chadha stated that the decision to leave AAP was a collective one taken by all seven MPs. He cited internal issues within the party, alleging a decline in its functioning and decision-making environment. Chadha said the group believed it was time to pursue “constructive and positive politics” through a different platform.
With the Chairman’s approval now in place, the merger stands effective, though the matter may still witness further legal and political contestation in the coming days.
