Raghav Chadha and 6 Other MPs Quit; Three Jump Ship to BJP

New Delhi : In a political earthquake that has rattled the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a major setback today as seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs officially parted ways with the party. Leading the exodus is senior leader and high-profile face Raghav Chadha, who, along with two other colleagues, has formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The sudden defection of key figures including Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, and Swati Maliwal has ignited a fierce war of words across the political spectrum, leaving Arvind Kejriwal’s party struggling to maintain its footing.

Opposition Slams "Horse-Trading" Tactics
Reacting sharply to the development, DMK leader TKS Elangovan launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing them of undermining democracy.

"This is the BJP—the world’s biggest buyer of MPs and MLAs. They have no faith in democracy and will resort to any form of fraud to grab power. They are performing unconstitutional and anti-democratic acts just to stay in office," Elangovan stated.

BJP Hits Back: "Corruption Forcing Leaders Out"
The BJP, meanwhile, framed the exodus as a result of internal rot within AAP. Senior leader Pravesh Verma targeted Arvind Kejriwal personally, questioning the source of funding for his official residence, often dubbed the "Sheesh Mahal."

Verma posed four direct questions to the Delhi CM:

• Where did the money for the bungalow renovations come from?
• Is the rampant corruption the reason your top leaders are deserting you?
• Why does someone who promised a two-room flat need a "Crystal Palace"?
• Which businessman funded the latest luxury upgrades?

Echoing these sentiments, Tarun Chugh claimed that Kejriwal has sacrificed the party's founding principles. "Even the courts recognize the corruption involved. In Punjab, a mafia gang is operating under the guise of the government," Chugh added.

A Lesson for AAP: The Samajwadi Party Perspective
While the Samajwadi Party (SP) expressed sadness over the split, their spokesperson, Dr. Ashutosh Verma, suggested that AAP’s "strategic mistakes" are to blame. He argued that the party, which rose to power on the backs of the poor and marginalized, failed its grassroots workers when it came to representation.

"When it came time to appoint Rajya Sabha members, you chose the elite faces like Chadha and Mittal. What about the auto drivers and slum dwellers who built your party? If you had empowered your loyal workers instead of high-profile names, you wouldn’t be facing this day," Verma remarked.

The Road Ahead
This mass resignation marks one of the most significant challenges for AAP since its inception. With the loss of nearly its entire presence in the Upper House, the party's influence on national legislation is severely diminished, while the BJP gains further momentum ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.