AAP faces major jolt as Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal announce switch to BJP
PTC Web Desk: In a major political development, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal on Friday declared that they have parted ways with the party and decided to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chadha said the decision came after internal differences, remarking that he had been “in the wrong party despite being the right person.” He further claimed that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Members of Parliament had chosen to exit the party.
According to Chadha, several other prominent figures, including former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal, are also part of the group shifting allegiance. He stated that the total number of MPs joining the BJP now stands at seven.
Raghav Chadha also announced that the group has initiated formal proceedings to merge with the BJP and has submitted the necessary documentation to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
The development comes shortly after enforcement action against Mittal, whose premises were recently searched by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Meanwhile, the AAP’s Punjab unit has strongly reacted to the move, alleging that the BJP is attempting to destabilise the party by creating pressure on its leaders. Party spokesperson Baltej Pannu accused the Centre of using investigative agencies to intimidate AAP MPs and orchestrate a split.
Pannu also alleged that Chadha was influenced as part of a larger political strategy, claiming he was offered a ministerial position at the Centre. He went on to level serious allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of playing a role in the alleged plan to weaken AAP, particularly in Punjab.
The situation marks a fresh flashpoint in the ongoing political tussle between the AAP and the BJP, with both sides trading sharp accusations over the circumstances surrounding the high-profile exits.
- With inputs from agencies
