How Kejriwal’s AAP Lost The Plot: From Swati Maliwal's Assault Row To Raghav Chadha’s Exit

Last Updated:April 25, 2026, 09:03 IST

Seven of AAPs 10 Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha and Swati Maliwal, quit to join BJP, weakening AAP in Parliament. But how did it all start?

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a serious political blow after seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs left the party and joined the BJP on Friday. These MPs include Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal.

This development has significantly weakened AAP’s presence in Parliament and raised questions about its future as a national political force.

How did it all start?

The current crisis can be traced back to 2024, when Swati Maliwal accused a close aide of then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of physically assaulting her at his residence. The incident, reported on May 13, 2024, marked the beginning of a deep internal divide within the party.

The situation worsened earlier this month when the party removed Raghav Chadha from the post of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. This move widened the gap between him and the party leadership, making reconciliation difficult.

What were Swati Maliwal’s allegations?

Swati Maliwal, in a detailed post, said she was leaving the party due to what she described as “unchecked corruption". She also spoke about incidents of harassment and assault against women and accused the party of promoting “thuggish" elements under Kejriwal’s leadership.

Her allegations have added to the controversy and highlighted deeper issues within the party.

Sudden exit of senior leaders

Although there had been rumours that some leaders were unhappy, the mass resignation came as a surprise. Many of the MPs, including Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Sandeep Pathak, had rarely expressed dissent in public.

The announcement was made by Chadha himself during a press conference on Friday, confirming that all seven leaders were leaving the party.

Mittal’s exit followed closely after Enforcement Directorate raids at his home and business premises in Punjab. The raids were linked to a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

AAP blames ‘Operation Lotus’

AAP leader Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of orchestrating the defections through what he called “Operation Lotus". He claimed that the MPs had left the party under pressure, fearing action by agencies such as the ED and the CBI.

According to Singh, the timing and scale of the resignations point to external influence rather than internal disagreements alone.

Raghav Chadha’s rise and fall in AAP

Raghav Chadha had long been seen as one of the most prominent faces of AAP. Once regarded as a close aide of Arvind Kejriwal, he rose quickly within the party and became a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab in 2022.

Following AAP’s victory in the Punjab Assembly elections that year, his influence grew significantly. He was often seen as one of the most powerful leaders in the state after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

However, his position weakened after Kejriwal’s arrest in 2024 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Chadha was questioned within the party for his absence during this period and for staying silent on key political issues.

His limited participation in party events and debates in the Rajya Sabha further added to concerns within the leadership. Over time, he was removed from several key roles, including co-incharge of Punjab affairs and his responsibilities as a poll strategist.

The differences between Chadha and the leadership became public after he was removed from the post of deputy leader. At the time, he warned that he was like a river that could turn into a flood at the right moment.

His statement now appears significant, as his exit has dealt a major blow to the party ahead of key assembly elections in Punjab, Gujarat and Goa next year.

AAP’s future

Apart from Maliwal, who represents Delhi in the Rajya Sabha, all the other MPs who resigned were elected from Punjab. Their departure has significantly reduced AAP’s strength in the Upper House.

The crisis comes at a crucial time, as the party prepares for upcoming assembly elections in several states. What was once seen as a growing national force now faces internal challenges that could affect its political standing in the coming months.

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