Raghav Chadha, Harbhajan Singh among 7 MPs set to join BJP, dealing blow to AAP
Addressing a press conference, Raghav Chadha announced his decision to part ways with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and join the BJP. He also said that 7 other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs will also merge with the saffron party.
Days after a public fallout with the Aam Aadmi Party over his removal as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, MP Raghav Chadha on Friday announced he will quit the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and join the BJP.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chadha said that two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha MPs had also decided to invoke constitutional provisions to merge with the BJP.
"We have decided that we, the two-thirds members belonging to the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP," Chadha said.
Other Rajya Sabha MPs, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, also announced their exit from AAP and said they will join the BJP.
Speaking to reporters, Chadha also revealed that several other AAP MPs, including disgruntled party leader Swati Maliwal, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta and Vikram Sahney, have also decided to join the BJP.
With seven Rajya Sabha MPs deciding to join the BJP, AAP is left with only 3 representatives in the Upper House: Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta and Balbir Singh Sicchewal.
Explaining his decision, Chadha said the party he had "nurtured with blood and sweat" had strayed from its founding principles.
"The AAP, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, and gave 15 years of my youth to, has deviated from its principles, values and core morals. Now this party does not work in the interest of the nation but for its personal benefits...For the past few years, I could feel that I am the right man in the wrong party. So, today, we announce that I am distancing myself from the AAP and getting close to public," Chadha said.
According to sources, Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Singh and Ashok Mittal will shortly meet BJP president Nitin Nabin and formally join the BJP.
Justifying his move, Chadha praised the leadership of Narendra Modi, saying the government had taken "strong decisions" that earlier ones hesitated to take, including tackling terrorism and strengthening India's global economic standing.
He said the public had endorsed this leadership "not once, not twice, but three times", and added that he looked forward to working under the Prime Minister and with Amit Shah.
AAP ALLEGES OP LOTUS
Soon after Raghav Chadha's presser, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh addressed the media and accused the BJP of once again launching "Operation Lotus" to poach leaders from rival parties. He also slammed Raghav Chadha and other party MPs who quit the party and said that people of Punjab will never forgive those who betrayed them.
"The people of Punjab should remember these seven names. They will never forgive those who have betrayed them. The party made Raghav Chadha an MLA and an MP, what did the people of Punjab not give him? How much love did they show by sending him to the Rajya Sabha? And now, he has gone into the lap of the BJP," Sanjay Singh said.
"Bhagwant Mann is doing good work for the people there in areas like education, health, electricity, water, and providing government jobs, and yet this ‘Operation Lotus’ is being played against that government," he added.