What Raghav Chadha’s Exit Means For AAP, BJP And Parliament Numbers

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 16:41 IST

Chadha claimed that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs — seven out of 10 — are set to merge with the BJP.

AAP senior leader Raghav Chadha on Friday announced his resignation from the party and his decision to join the BJP, triggering what could be one of the biggest shifts in politics in months.

Chadha claimed that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs — seven out of 10 — are set to merge with the BJP.

Addressing the media alongside MPs Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, he said the party had moved away from its founding ideals. “The AAP that I gave 15 years of my life to… Now the party has stepped away from honest politics. I am the right man in the wrong party," he said.

The move comes weeks after Chadha was removed as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, signalling growing internal tensions.

ALSO READ: ‘AAP Being Run By Corrupt & Compromised People’: Why Raghav Chadha Quit Kejriwal’s Party

What it means for AAP

The development is a major setback for AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal. Chadha was among the party’s most prominent national faces and played a key role in expanding its footprint beyond Delhi, especially in Punjab.

If the claimed numbers hold, AAP risks losing a majority of its strength in the Rajya Sabha. The exit of leaders such as Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal and others points to deeper internal rifts and a possible wider exodus.

The party, which currently has 10 MPs in the Upper House — seven from Punjab and three from Delhi — could see its parliamentary influence sharply reduced.

What it means for BJP

For the BJP, Chadha’s move is a clear political gain. The addition of several AAP MPs would strengthen its position in the Rajya Sabha, where it is already the single largest party.

It also gives the BJP an opportunity to expand its influence in Punjab by bringing in leaders who were instrumental in AAP’s rise in the state. The shift could further weaken opposition unity at the national level.

What it means for Parliament numbers

The Rajya Sabha has a total strength of 245 members. The BJP currently holds 98 seats, while the NDA alliance stands at around 121. The opposition INDIA bloc has roughly 80 seats.

A shift of up to seven MPs from AAP to the BJP would further tilt the balance in favour of the ruling alliance, making it easier to push legislation in the Upper House.

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