Vice President approves 7 AAP Rajya Sabha MPs 'merger' witth BJP

New Delhi: In a development that has intensified political tensions, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan has approved the shift of seven MPs, including Raghav Chadha, from the Aam Aadmi Party to the Bharatiya Janata Party, significantly altering the balance of power in the Upper House.

The move follows the dramatic exit of the MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party on April 24, when Chadha announced that more than two-thirds of the party’s Rajya Sabha members were breaking away and aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The decision effectively shields the defectors from disqualification under anti-defection provisions, as the split meets the required numerical threshold.

With the inclusion of the seven MPs, the BJP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha has risen to 113, bringing it closer to consolidating dominance in the chamber. In contrast, the AAP has been reduced from 10 MPs to just three, marking a sharp decline in its parliamentary presence and influence at the national level.

The development has triggered strong reactions from AAP leadership, including Arvind Kejriwal, who has pushed for legal action against the defectors and demanded their disqualification. The party views the mass shift as a betrayal of the electoral mandate, signalling its intent to challenge the move through legal avenues.

Politically, the shift strengthens the BJP’s ability to push key legislation through the Rajya Sabha and tighten its grip over parliamentary proceedings. At the same time, it deals a major blow to the AAP, which governs Delhi and Punjab but now faces a weakened position in national politics.