Raghav Chadha Reveals "Real Reason" Why He, 6 AAP MPs Are Joining BJP

Raghav Chadha announced that six other Rajya Sabha MPs were joining the BJP with him.

24 Apr 2026, 10:48 · www.ndtv.com

Show
Quick Read
Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed

"I was not worthy of their friendship because I did not participate in their crimes," the Rajya Sabha MP said
He alleged that the AAP has strayed from its principles and morals
"I also felt that I am the right man in the wrong party," he said

Did our AI summary help?
Let us know.
Switch To Beeps Mode
New Delhi:

Minutes after he triggered a political earthquake by announcing that he and six other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs were quitting the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and merging with the BJP, Raghav Chadha revealed what he claimed was the "real reason" behind the decision.

Addressing a press conference on Friday with two other MPs, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha - who was demoted from the post of AAP's Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha weeks ago - pulled no punches while talking about the party he had been with since its inception in 2012. Live updates

"You have been asking me for years why I was not participating in AAP's activities and seemed distant from it. I wouldn't say anything at the time and kept working for things to get better. But I will tell you the real reason today: I didn't want to be a part of their crimes ('Main unke gunaah mein shaamil nahin hona chahta tha'). I was not worthy of their friendship because I did not participate in their crimes," the 37-year-old MP said.

Chadha explained that he and the other MPs had two options before them: Either quit politics and give up the work they had done in the past "15-16 years" or use their experience and skills and do "positive politics".

"So, we have decided that we, two-thirds of the members of the AAP in Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP," he announced.

"The Aam Aadmi Party has strayed from its principles, morals and values, and does not work for the nation or nation-building but for its own interests. Many of you had told me this and I also felt that I am the right man in the wrong party," Chadha claimed.

The Six Others

The AAP has 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha and having six other MPs with him will ensure that Chadha does not fall afoul of the anti-defection law, which does not trigger if two-thirds of lawmakers of a party - seven of 10 AAP Rajya Sabha MPs in this case - decide to merge with another.

Apart from Mittal and Pathak, who addressed the press conference with him, Chadha said the other MPs who were joining the BJP are Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney.

"We have signed and sent it (the document announcing our decision to merge with the BJP) to the Rajya Sabha chairman," he said.

AAP Reaction

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal had a terse, one-line response to Chadha's announcement. Taking aim at the MP and his new party, he wrote on X: "The BJP has once again betrayed Punjabis."

Show full article

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world