• Source:JND
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Raghav Chadha News: In one of the most daring moves of his career, Raghav Chadha, once the golden boy of AAP and close confidante of party chief Arvind Kejriwal, on Friday announced that he has quit the Aam Aadmi Party and will be joining the BJP, along with 6 other Rajya Sabha MPs. This came as a huge setback to the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha, with its presence in the upper house lingering on the edge after the rebellion.

Raghav Chadha, in his press briefing, accused AAP of deviating from its core principles and alleged that it is now working for personal benefits. "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," he said.

"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 the public," the 37-year-old parliamentarian said.

In another surprise for the AAP, Ashok Mittal, who replaced Raghav Chadha as the party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha a few days back, has also decided to jump ship and join the BJP, along with former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh.

ALSO READ: 'Raghav Chadha Used As Tool For BJP's Operation Lotus': AAP's First Reaction To Rebellion By 7 Rajya Sabha MPs

The seven MPs who defected from AAP include Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta and Vikramjit Singh Sahney.

BJP Gets A Boost In Rajya Sabha:

While the development came as a shock to the Aam Aadmi Party, it created a win-win situation for the BJP, at least in the Rajya Sabha, where the saffron brigade finds itself a bit more cornered by the opposition than in the Lok Sabha. The inclusion of 7 more MPs will bring the total number of MPs of the NDA to a more definitive majority, which will likely help the ruling dispensation in the passage of controversial bills.

With the addition of 7 MPs, the NDA's numbers in the Rajya Sabha will rise from 141 to 148, while the BJP's individual members will increase from 106 to 113. Notably, the majority mark in the Rajya Sabha is 123.

ALSO READ: 'Didn’t Want To Be Part Of Their Sins': Raghav Chadha Reveals Why He Rebelled Against AAP

What About The Anti-Defection Law?

The current scenario puts all the focus on the Anti-defection Law, under which any member of a party stands to lose their seat if he/she defects to another political outfit after winning the mandate. A report by News18 also states that AAP is expected to submit a plea in the Rajya Sabha secretariat seeking the disqualification of the defected MPs under the law.

But, there's a catch.

The Anti-Defection Law allows switching of allegiance only if at least two-thirds of a party's legislative unit decides to merge with another party. In the current scenario, Raghav Chadha is claiming the support of 6 other AAP MPs, including Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Rajinder Gupta and Vikramjit Singh Sahney.

ALSO READ: Raghav Chadha, 6 Other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs Merge With BJP; Will They Lose Their Seats Under Anti-Defection Law?

Before today's defection, AAP had 10 Rajya Sabha members. With 7 out of those 10 (more than 66%) quitting the party and joining the BJP, they have surpassed the legal threshold to remain members of the house, under the new party, without triggering by-elections.


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