Raghav Chadha joins BJP, what Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Sanjay Singh said?
Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has announced his decision to leave the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and join the BJP.
During a press conference on Friday along with Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Raghav Chadha stated, "We have decided that we—two-thirds of the Aam Aadmi Party's members in the Rajya Sabha—are joining the BJP in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution."
Raghav Chadha stated, "The Aam Aadmi Party—which I nurtured with my own blood and sweat, and to which I dedicated 15 years of my youth—has now completely strayed from its principles, values, and fundamental ethics. This party is no longer working for the country or the national interest; instead, it is working solely for personal self-interest."
He added, "Many of you have been telling me for the past few years—and I, too, have personally felt this—that I am the right man, but in the wrong party. I reiterate: 'I am the right man, but in the wrong party.' Therefore, today I announce that I am disassociating myself from the Aam Aadmi Party and am turning to the people."
Responding to questions from journalists, Raghav Chadha stated, "The Aam Aadmi Party has 10 Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. More than two-thirds of them stand with us. They have signed the necessary documents, and this morning, we submitted the signed letters and documents to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Three of these members are present here before you today. In addition to us, the group includes Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal."
Joining Raghav Chadha at the press conference, MP Sandeep Pathak said, "I never imagined in my lifetime that such a situation would arise, yet here we are. I have been a part of this party for the past 10 years. Today, I am parting ways with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)."
"When it came to joining a political party, I chose to join AAP because it championed a new brand of politics—a politics focused on performance and substantive work. Over the last 10 years, I have worked with absolute diligence and integrity. Every political decision I took was made with the party's best interests placed above all else. Today, I am joining the Bharatiya Janata Party and am resigning from all my positions within AAP."
Earlier this month, the AAP had reassigned the responsibility of the party's Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha from Raghav Chadha to Ashok Kumar Mittal.
Raghav Chadha had questioned the Aam Aadmi Party's decision, asserting that he had consistently raised issues of public interest, and asked what harm such actions could possibly have caused the party.
Kejriwal slams BJP
The Aam Aadmi Party slammed BJP and termed this development 'Operation Lotus.'
Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal took to 'X' (formerly Twitter) and, without explicitly naming Raghav Chadha, wrote in Hindi: "The BJP has once again betrayed the people of Punjab."
Bhagwant Mann labels them 'traitors'
In response to this, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann issued a strong statement from Chandigarh. Addressing the rift within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he remarked, “These 6 or 7 individuals who have left do not belong to Punjab. They are traitors to the Punjabi people. They were handed seats on a platter; they didn't even have to solicit votes. They didn't have to take to the streets, nor did they have to speak up on the issues affecting the people. They went there solely to save their own skins. Now, there is no place for them there either, because they have aligned themselves with the BJP. They merely apply a coat of paint and then abandon the project.”
People of Punjab will never forgive him: Sanjay Singh
Sanjay Singh—the Aam Aadmi Party's leader in the Rajya Sabha and National Media In-charge—held a press conference, labeling the defection of seven party MPs, including Raghav Chadha, to the BJP as "Operation Lotus."
Sanjay Singh stated, "The Aam Aadmi Party elevated Raghav Chadha to the positions of MLA and MP. We gave him everything, yet he betrayed the party. The people of Punjab will never forgive him."
He added, "The AAP and the public lifted Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney, Swati Maliwal, Vikram Sahney, and Harbhajan Singh from the grassroots level and sent them to Parliament. These seven individuals have stabbed the people of Punjab in the back; they have betrayed them. They have betrayed the Bhagwant Mann government."
He further remarked, "The Bhagwant Mann government is doing excellent work; that is precisely why 'Operation Lotus' is being deployed, and agencies like the ED and CBI are being weaponized. Just a few days ago, the ED raided Ashok Mittal's residence; they intimidated him and coerced him into switching sides."
He emphasized, "This is 'Operation Lotus'—an operation orchestrated under the leadership of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi with the sole intent of betraying the people of Punjab."