Major Shift in Indian Politics: AAP MPs Merge with BJP

In a significant political shift, seven Members of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party have officially merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party, boosting BJP's strength in the Rajya Sabha to 113. This move follows the resignation of the MPs from AAP and highlights a growing trend of political realignment in India. Raghav Chadha, one of the MPs, explained their motivations during a press conference, emphasizing a commitment to positive politics. The implications of this merger are profound, especially in the context of the anti-defection law, which governs such political transitions. Read on to explore the details of this major development.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 27, 2026, 12:44 IST

Significant Political Development in India

A significant update has emerged from the corridors of Indian politics. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha has officially approved the merger of seven Members of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This merger has strengthened the BJP's position in the upper house, increasing their total membership to 113.

The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has confirmed this move by issuing an official notice. According to the official records of the Rajya Sabha, all seven MPs are now registered as part of the BJP.

BJP's Strength in Rajya Sabha Grows

With this merger, the BJP's strength in the Rajya Sabha has risen to 113. The seven AAP MPs who joined the BJP are Raghav Chadha, Ashok Kumar Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Kumar Pathak, Vikramjeet Singh Sahni, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta. They resigned from their party on April 24 and joined the BJP at its headquarters in Delhi. The process of joining was completed in the presence of BJP President Nitin Naveen and senior leader Tarun Chugh.

Press Conference Highlights

Before the meeting, Chadha addressed a press conference, accompanied by Pathak and Mittal. He stated that two-thirds of the AAP's Rajya Sabha MPs have separated from the party and are joining the BJP as a distinct faction.

"I am revealing the real reason for distancing myself from the party's activities. I did not want to be part of their wrongdoings. I felt I was not worthy of their friendship because I was not involved in their crimes. We had only two options — either to leave politics and abandon the public service work done over the last 15-16 years, or to engage in positive politics with our energy and experience. Therefore, we have decided that we, the two-thirds of the members associated with AAP in the Rajya Sabha, will merge into the BJP using the provisions of the Constitution," he explained.

Understanding the Anti-Defection Law

The purpose of the anti-defection law, included in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, is to prevent elected MPs from changing political parties after winning elections. It aims to ensure stability in Parliament, including the Rajya Sabha. Under this law, a member can lose their seat if they voluntarily leave their party or vote against the party's directives (whip). However, if at least two-thirds of the members of a party in the house decide to join another party, it is considered a legitimate merger rather than defection. In such cases, these members are not disqualified under the anti-defection law.