Raghav Chadha Quits AAP, Joins BJP With 6 MPs: "I Was the Right Man in the Wrong Party"

Raghav Chadha Quits AAP, Joins BJP With 6 More MPs in the Biggest Political Shock of 2026

Indian politics has seen many defections, many betrayals, and many dramatic reversals — but what happened on the morning of April 25, 2026, has left even seasoned political observers struggling for words. Raghav Chadha — one of the most recognisable faces of the Aam Aadmi Party, a Rajya Sabha MP, the party's most polished communicator, and the man married to Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra — walked out of AAP and walked straight into the BJP, taking six other Rajya Sabha MPs with him in the biggest single-day exodus in AAP's history.

In a stroke, two-thirds of AAP's entire Rajya Sabha presence evaporated. Arvind Kejriwal's party — already battered after a series of setbacks — has been left in what insiders describe simply as "shambles."

🎤 The Press Conference That Shocked India

The drama unfolded at a press conference on Friday morning. Standing alongside Rajya Sabha MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Raghav Chadha made the announcement with calm, measured clarity that made it hit even harder.

Addressing the press conference, Chadha said: "We have decided that we, the 2/3rd members belonging to the AAP in Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP." 

He did not stop there. His statement was a full, public indictment of the party he had devoted fifteen years of his life to building.

"The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals. The party is no longer working for the country or in the national interest but for personal gain. Many of you have been telling me this for the past few years, and I too have personally felt that I am the right man in the wrong party," Chadha said.

He also explained why he had quietly distanced himself from party activities in recent months: "I did not want to be a part of their crimes. I was not eligible for their friendship because I was not a part of their crime. We had just two options — either quit politics and give up our public work in the last 15-16 years, or do positive politics with our energy and experience."

👥 Who Are the Seven MPs Who Quit AAP?

Seven of AAP's Rajya Sabha MPs quit the party and joined the BJP on Friday: Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahni, and Swati Maliwal. 

Chadha confirmed: "There are 10 AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha; more than 2/3rd of them are with us in this. They have signed, and this morning we submitted the signed letter and documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman." 

Each of these names carries significant weight. Sandeep Pathak was AAP's national organisation secretary — a key architect of AAP's expansion beyond Delhi and into Punjab. Swati Maliwal is the former Delhi Women's Commission chief whose falling out with Kejriwal had been one of AAP's most damaging public controversies. Harbhajan Singh, the legendary former India cricketer turned politician, brought enormous public recognition to the party when he joined. Their collective departure is not just a numbers loss — it is a reputational and organisational catastrophe.

Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak formally met BJP National President Nitin Nabin at the party headquarters shortly after the press conference. 

📉 The Build-Up: This Did Not Come From Nowhere

What looked like a sudden, shocking political setback was, in fact, the culmination of a prolonged power struggle, personal differences, and growing distrust between Arvind Kejriwal and his leaders. 

The cracks had been visible for months. Here is the full timeline of the breakdown:

The Swati Maliwal Assault Case (May 2024): The roots of this crisis can be traced to 2024, when Swati Maliwal, another Rajya Sabha MP, alleged that she was physically assaulted by a close aide of then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence on May 13. The incident created a deep public rift between Maliwal and the party leadership. 

Raghav Chadha Sidelined: The divide deepened earlier this month when the party removed Raghav Chadha from the post of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. For someone of his stature and public profile, this was a humiliation that could not be quietly absorbed.

The "Voice Raised Price Paid" Video: Before his formal exit, Chadha gave a signal to those paying attention. He shared a video on Instagram titled "Voice Raised Price Paid" — a compilation of clips showing him raising various issues in Parliament — a clear message that he believed he had been punished by the party for speaking his mind.

The ED Raids Connection: Ashok Mittal's resignation came shortly after Enforcement Directorate raids at his residence and business premises, including Lovely Professional University in Punjab, in connection with a Foreign Exchange Management Act case.

😡 Kejriwal's Response: "BJP Ne Phir Kiya"

Arvind Kejriwal did not take this quietly. His first reaction was pointed and political — blaming the BJP entirely for orchestrating the defection.

In a major setback for the AAP, Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal announced at a press conference that two-thirds of the party's members in the Upper House have quit and will join the BJP as a faction. Kejriwal's first reaction was: "BJP ne phir kiya" — BJP has done it again.

AAP has termed the mass exit as "betrayal of Punjab", accusing the BJP of fracturing a split using central agencies. 

AAP leader Sanjay Singh was more direct, calling it "Operation Lotus" — a reference to the BJP's alleged strategy of poaching elected representatives from opposition parties across India.

AAP's Chief National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said: "Punjabis are watching that the 7 MPs who were sent to the Parliament by them have now supported a party which killed 800 farmers. BJP calls farmers terrorists, and these 7 MPs supported them today. This is no less than 'gaddari'. Public will give a reply to this." 

⚖️ AAP Fights Back: Anti-Defection Law Notice

AAP is not accepting this quietly from a legal standpoint either.

The party is considering sending a letter through ND Gupta — AAP's chief whip in the Upper House — to Rajya Sabha Chairperson CP Radhakrishnan, seeking action against Chadha, Mittal and Pathak under the anti-defection law. "Gupta's letter will seek action as per the anti-defection law. These 3 leaders were seen in public joining the BJP. The rest four were not seen in the public domain making that move. Hence, the chief whip will lodge the complaint against the three MPs seen in the BJP office," AAP sources confirmed. 

However, constitutional experts have noted that the merger of two-thirds of a party's parliamentary group with another party is specifically protected under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution — which is precisely why Chadha invoked the "two-thirds provisions" language in his press statement. The legality of AAP's anti-defection challenge will be closely watched in the coming days.

📱 10 Lakh Instagram Followers Lost Overnight

The political earthquake also registered on social media with startling speed.

Since the announcement, social media trackers and users flagged a sharp drop in Chadha's Instagram followers. Online estimates circulating since Friday night claim he has lost close to 10 lakh followers in under 24 hours — with his count dropping from around 14.6 million to nearly 13.6 million. This isn't just a number — it signals a sharp emotional reaction from a digitally engaged supporter base, especially young voters who once saw him as a reformist voice. 

The social media reaction has been fierce, creative, and unsparing. Memes flooded social media, with one widely shared image featuring a washing machine bearing BJP symbols — the so-called "BJP washing machine" — with Chadha depicted alongside it. One user commented: "List out the names of all politicians who once criticised the BJP/Modi and then took a trip to this 'magical' washing machine, the latest being this guy." 

For a politician who built much of his brand on social media savviness, the speed and scale of the follower collapse is a jarring early signal of the public mood.

🏛️ BJP's Perspective: "This Was Natural"

The BJP, for its part, has been measured and welcoming in its public statements — playing the role of a party that has simply opened its doors to those disillusioned with corruption.

Delhi BJP president Virendraaa Sachdeva said: "This was natural." 

BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana added: "There is huge corruption in Punjab since the formation of the AAP government. They left the party after getting frustrated." 

For the BJP, absorbing 7 AAP Rajya Sabha MPs ahead of the crucial Punjab assembly elections is a strategic coup — regardless of what it cost in terms of public perception about poaching rival party members.

🌾 What Anna Hazare Said

The man whose movement gave birth to AAP back in 2011 — social activist Anna Hazare — was asked for his reaction. His response was brief and philosophical.

Anna Hazare stated: "In a democracy, it is every individual's right to decide where to go and where to stay." 

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of either side — but the quiet sadness in those words about the party that emerged from his movement was unmistakable.

🔍 What This Means for AAP Going Forward

The implications of today's mass exodus are enormous and multi-layered:

Rajya Sabha strength obliterated. AAP had 10 Rajya Sabha MPs. Seven have now left. That leaves the party with just 3 members in the Upper House — a devastating reduction in legislative influence at the national level.

Punjab at risk. All the leaders, particularly Chadha and Pathak, had played a crucial role in helping AAP expand its base in Punjab. Their departure is likely to create a huge vacuum for Kejriwal's party, and this situation is now likely to determine whether AAP can sustain its expansion ambitions or be forced to consolidate around its existing strongholds. 

The Punjab assembly elections context. Manish Sisodia immediately met party supremo Arvind Kejriwal at his residence following the mass exodus, with the two leaders deliberating on the party's future strategy and how it can deal with the crisis ahead of crucial assembly elections in Punjab next year.

Organisational vacuum. Sandeep Pathak was not just an MP — he was the backbone of AAP's national party organisation. Replacing that institutional knowledge and network will take years, not months.

💬 Raghav Chadha — Who Is He?

For those less familiar with Indian politics, Raghav Chadha is one of the most distinctive political personalities of his generation. A chartered accountant by training and a political communicator by talent, he rose rapidly through AAP's ranks on the strength of his articulate, composed debating style and his ability to connect with young, urban voters.

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 as AAP's representative from Punjab. He married Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra in September 2023 — a union that made him one of the most high-profile political-celebrity couples in India. His social media presence — 14+ million Instagram followers before the overnight drop — made him one of the most digitally prominent politicians of his age group in the country.

His departure from AAP doesn't just cost the party a MP. It costs them a face, a voice, a brand — and a bridge to exactly the young, aspirational voters they most need to retain.

🔮 What Happens Next

The coming days will be defined by three developments to watch closely:

The anti-defection legal battle. AAP's challenge under the Tenth Schedule will be filed with the Rajya Sabha Chairman. How he rules — and whether the case reaches the Supreme Court — will determine the formal constitutional standing of the seven defectors.

BJP's use of these MPs. Will the seven be given party positions, fielded in elections, or used primarily for their Punjab connect in the run-up to state elections? Their utility to BJP will become clear quickly.

AAP's response on the ground. Kejriwal has survived political catastrophes before — his arrest, his party's collapse in Delhi assembly elections, the continuous ED-CBI pressure. Whether AAP can survive this moment of institutional implosion while simultaneously preparing for Punjab elections will be the defining test of the party's resilience.

One thing is certain: Indian politics in April 2026 is moving faster than anyone can predict.