Merger of 7 AAP Rajya Sabha MPs with BJP likely to be completed today

The merger of seven Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party into the Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to be approved today, with formalities already completed.

In Short

• Chairman Rajya Sabha may approve merger, formalities done
• Punjab CM Mann calls MPs traitors, mocks their impact
• Opposition sees exit as sign of AAP’s internal crisis

The process of merger involving seven Rajya Sabha MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party is likely to be completed today, sources said. According to sources, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha may grant approval for the group’s merger into the Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentary party, with all formalities already completed.

The development follows a major political setback for the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, as seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs resigned from the party on Friday and announced their decision to join the BJP. The MPs include Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sawhney. Chadha confirmed in Delhi that all seven MPs had merged with the BJP.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reacted sharply, calling the departing MPs “gaddars” (traitors) and accusing the BJP of attempting to break his party and betray the people of Punjab. He also made a sarcastic remark, comparing the seven MPs to ingredients in a vegetable dish, saying that while such ingredients can enhance taste, they cannot form a dish on their own.

Mann asserted that the AAP remains united and dismissed concerns about any impact on the 2027 Assembly polls. He argued that the MPs were not mass leaders and lacked a voter base. “A mass leader is a person whom people love. Even a sarpanch has a vote bank. Do they have any vote bank here?” he said.

The chief minister also accused the BJP of running “Operation Lotus” to poach AAP members and alleged misuse of central agencies against political opponents. Challenging the Enforcement Directorate, he said, “Come and raid my residence.”

Opposition parties, however, said the exit of seven Rajya Sabha MPs reflects a deep-rooted crisis within the AAP. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema said that such a large-scale exit indicates a disconnect between the party leadership and its cadre.

Friday’s developments are expected to provide ammunition to opposition parties as Punjab heads towards the 2027 Assembly elections.

- Ends