Raghav Chadha Live Updates: ‘Honest politics has gone astray’: Swati Maliwal hits out at AAP; alleges assault and corruption

Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Friday announced her exit from the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal of abandoning the ideals of honest politics.

In a detailed statement, Maliwal recalled her journey from the RTI and Anna movements to her work with the Delhi Commission for Women, saying she had served with “complete honesty and commitment.”

She alleged that the party had deviated from its founding principles under Kejriwal’s leadership and reiterated claims that she was “brutally beaten” at his residence by a close aide, who she said was later protected and rewarded. Citing growing corruption, alleged harassment of women, and developments in Punjab, Maliwal said these issues compelled her to leave the party.

She added that she would elaborate further after returning to Delhi from Itanagar, where she was attending a parliamentary committee meeting.

Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, saying the party that once stood for “revolution” is now facing collapse due to growing mistrust and alienation.

In a post on X, she alleged that the AAP no longer represents the common man and has been taken over by corrupt elements.

Referring to the exit of Raghav Chadha with two-thirds of the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs, Gupta said the development was a direct blow to former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s “authoritarianism.”

"The AAP—which began with the slogan of revolution—is meeting its end amidst mistrust and alienation. Your party no longer holds room for the 'common man'; only the corrupt remain. Mr Kejriwal, the departure of two-thirds of your Rajya Sabha MPs strikes a direct blow to your authoritarianism. Now, after Delhi, it is Punjab's turn," she wrote.

Renowned legal experts highlighted the Tenth Schedule's inability to stop political defections when they acquire the scale of "merger" and said joining of BJP by seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs led by Raghav Chadha would not fall foul of the anti-defection law, which approves two-thirds of a legislature party to break away and merge with another party.

Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Neeraj Kishan Kaul and Maninder Singh said Section 4(2) of the Tenth Schedule provided that the penalty of disqualification may not arise if two-thirds of the strength of a legislature party in a House approves breaking away from the party on whose ticket they got elected and merged with another party.

Reacting to Raghav Chadha and 6 other MPs joining BJP, social activist Anna Hazare said the Constitution does not bind individuals to any party and that people in a democracy are free to move if they choose. He added that such exits often point to a lack of proper functioning and internal discipline within parties, suggesting that stronger organisational cohesion could prevent defections.

"The Constitution does not mention the name of any party... People are free in a democracy, if anybody feels like going somewhere else, they are free to do so.. If parties function properly and maintain internal discipline, then they would not have left," he said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia strongly criticised certain Rajya Sabha MPs who have reportedly decided to align with BJP, calling them “traitors” and accusing them of betraying the efforts of Punjab workers for personal reasons.

In a post on X, Sisodia said he was currently in Gujarat, where AAP workers were allegedly facing intimidation and difficulties while working to strengthen the party’s ideology. He claimed that at such a time, some members had “struck a deal” driven by fear and personal gain, disregarding the sacrifices of party workers.

He further stated that these MPs, who have “surrendered” before the BJP, had betrayed the people of Punjab due to “compulsions, fear, and greed,” adding that “Punjab never forgives traitors.”

The remarks came after three MPs — Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Ashok Mittal — announced a split from AAP and claimed that two-thirds of the party’s Rajya Sabha members had decided to merge with the BJP.

The exit of seven Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal from the Aam Aadmi Party marks a significant political setback for the party at a crucial pre-election stage, potentially impacting its organisational strength and campaign preparedness ahead of upcoming Assembly and national electoral battles.

The development comes at a sensitive time when AAP is preparing to expand its footprint beyond its core bases in Delhi and Punjab into states such as Gujarat and Goa. The party, which has positioned itself as a challenger to both national and regional forces, now faces questions over internal stability and leadership continuity as it enters a critical electoral cycle.

Over the past two years, AAP has already been navigating political turbulence, with senior leaders including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia facing legal and administrative challenges in the alleged excise policy case. During that period, second-line leaders like Chadha played a key role in sustaining organisational momentum and parliamentary functioning.

The collective departure of senior MPs, many of whom were involved in shaping policy messaging, outreach, and organisational coordination, is likely to affect the party’s campaign structure and strategic planning. With the reported merger of these MPs with the Bharatiya Janata Party, the shift also signals a potential redistribution of political influence ahead of elections.

In Parliament, AAP’s reduced strength in the Rajya Sabha may limit its visibility in national debates, while on the electoral front, the timing raises concerns about cadre morale and leadership depth as the party prepares for multi-state contests.

AAP leaders, however, maintain that the party’s grassroots network and governance record, particularly in Punjab and Delhi, remain strong enough to withstand the setback. Still, the exits revive long-standing concerns about internal cohesion in a party that has previously witnessed departures of several prominent leaders over time.

Sidelined leader Raghav Chadha, once a rising star of the Aam Aadmi Party, changed the entire game for the party on Friday when he walked out along with six other Rajya Sabha members, exploding the internal rift into a full-blown rupture. The rift became public after the close aide of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal was removed from the Rajya Sabha deputy leader position and charged with engaging in "soft PR" earlier this month.

Chadha, one of the youngest members of the Rajya Sabha, had reportedly been at odds with the party’s top leadership for some time now. The growing rift became more evident as he remained absent during some of the party’s most crucial moments, including the recent court relief granted to Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.

Saurabh Bharadwaj, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, alleged that “Operation Lotus” reflects a pattern of political pressure on opposition parties.

In a post on X, he said, "Operation Lotus yet again proves it: If you want to oppose BJP Govt’s corruption & misrule, you MUST shed the fear of jail. ED has been turned into BJP’s private Gestapo - raiding, arm-twisting & jailing opposition leaders at will. This fascist intimidation is now the ‘new normal’ under Modi.

The real danger?

If there’s no Opposition left, who the hell will hold this arrogant government accountable?

Who will speak for the people?

Democracy is being murdered in broad daylight. Wake up India."

Reacting to the breakaway of three Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs, Delhi Congress president Devendra Yadav launched a sharp attack on the AAP leadership, alleging that the party functions as the “B team of BJP” and has “cheated” the people.

Yadav said AAP was formed with high public expectations of serving ordinary citizens, but claimed it failed to live up to those promises after coming to power. “Look, when the Aam Aadmi Party was formed, people had great expectations, and somehow it was clear that perhaps this party was formed to serve the common people. This became certain the day they came into power and its main leaders either left the party or were forcibly ousted. We have been saying this for a long time that AAP is the B team of BJP. They cheated the people of the nation,” he told ANI.

Describing AAP’s political journey as a “drama,” Yadav said Delhi has suffered the most under its governance. “What we have seen in the last 12 years is just a drama. And if I say who suffered the most from this drama, it's Delhi because Delhi, trusting them, gave the Aam Aadmi Party a chance to form the government,” he said.

He added that the Congress had long maintained that AAP was aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party. “But this was bound to happen because we have been saying from the start that the Aam Aadmi Party is entirely a B-team of the BJP. Today that veil has been lifted,” he said.

Yadav further alleged that recent political developments expose both BJP’s strategy and AAP’s role in it, claiming that the people of Delhi and the country have been misled.

Social activist Anna Hazare said that Raghav Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP would not have quit the party if it had followed the “right” path.

Speaking to reporters, Hazare said, “Everyone has the right to hold an opinion in democracy. They (Chadha and others) must have faced some trouble, which is why they left.”

He added, “It is their (AAP leadership’s) fault. Had that party followed the right way, they would not have left," as quoted by PTI.

Hazare further said, “Had the party gone in the right direction, they would not have quit the party,” and reiterated, “There must be some or the other reason (for their leaving AAP). In a democracy, every person has a view about where to stay and leave.”

Earlier in the day, Chadha and Sandeep Pathak had announced their exit from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, with Chadha claiming that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs had formed a separate faction.

Reacting to the exit of Raghav Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs from AAP to join BJP Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "It is good that this has happened; we welcome them.”

Reacting to the merger announcement, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge alleged that the BJP frequently resorts to “Operation Lotus” tactics to secure majorities.

He claimed such strategies had been used earlier in Karnataka and were now being implemented across the country under the leadership of PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.

Sanjay Singh, Rajya Sabha MP from AAP, said he will write to the Rajya Sabha chairman seeking disqualification of Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak.

"I will submit a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, in which a demand will be made to declare Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, and Sandeep Pathak disqualified from Rajya Sabha membership for joining the BJP, as this is tantamount to voluntarily relinquishing membership of their original party under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution."

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised AAP, saying the party needs introspection rather than blame-shifting.

"Lifelong AAP made the same mistake, "dhool chehre pe thi, AAP aayenaa saaf karti rahi." It is time for self-introspection. But instead of that, they are comparing themselves to Punjab. How is leaving Kejriwal a betrayal of Punjab? Betrayal of Punjab is when you say 'nasha mukt' bur do not do it, when you collude with mafia, and indulge in unprecedented corruption and do not bring Jan Lokpal. AAP has now become 'Arvind Akele ki Party,'" said Poonawalla.

"How many leaders have quit? Yogendra Yadav, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Ashutosh, Alka Lamba, Rajendra Pal Gautam - many of them joined different parties. That too was Operation Lotus. This party was born to oppose Congress, to fight corruption...When they deviated from their principles, several leaders drifted away from Kejriwal. But instead of looking at the fault within, Arvind Kejriwal is making accusations. This shows they have still not understood the real reason. Those who walked with Anna once are now walking with Lalu," he added.

Reacting to the recent development, AAP’s chief national spokesperson Priyanka Kak alleged that the BJP targeted the party in Punjab due to its political position in the state.

"Everyone knows that AAP has no leader in Punjab. Everyone also knows that Congress is almost finished there. So, this time, they (BJP) broke away AAP leaders. But I can tell you that Punjabis are watching that the 7 MPs who were sent to the Parliament by them have now supported a party which killed 800 farmers. BJP calls farmers terrorists, and these 7 MPs supported them today. This is no less than 'gaddari'. Public will give a reply to this," she said.

Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and several other former MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, marking a significant shift in the Rajya Sabha.

The move comes after more than two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs announced their decision to merge with the BJP, invoking constitutional provisions. According to Chadha, seven out of the party’s 10 MPs in the Upper House backed the move and submitted signed documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

Among those part of the shift are Sandeep Pathak and other senior leaders, indicating a deep internal split within AAP. The leaders also met BJP National President Nitin Nabin at the party headquarters following the announcement.

The development follows weeks of tensions within AAP, including Chadha’s removal from a key Rajya Sabha position, and signals a major realignment in national politics, with potential implications for the balance of power in Parliament.

Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Ashok Mittal met Nitin Nabin, National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, at the party headquarters. The meeting comes after more than two-thirds of Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs announced their decision to merge with the BJP.

Swati Maliwal alleged that the party has deviated from its founding principles under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.

Taking to announce her resignation from AAP on X, she said, "In 2006, I left my job and chose the path of national service. Through the RTI movement, the Anna movement, the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party, and eight years of dedicated work at the Delhi Commission for Women, I contributed with complete honesty and devotion at every stage. With the principles, values, and resolve for honest politics with which we began this journey, I must say with great sorrow today that Arvind Kejriwal ji and, at his behest, the entire Aam Aadmi Party has deviated from those ideals. At his residence, on his signal, I was brutally beaten and subjected to gross indecency. To protect his goon, he pulled out all the stops and rewarded him with top positions. Threats were made to ruin me, and every possible effort was made to do so."

"Seeing the unchecked corruption growing in the Aam Aadmi Party under Kejriwal ji's patronage, incidents of harassment and assault against women, the encouragement of thuggish elements, and the betrayal and plunder happening with Punjab, I have decided to leave the party today. I was in Itanagar at this time for a parliamentary committee meeting. After returning to Delhi tonight, I will speak in detail on this matter," she added.

Announcing his merger with BJP, Raghav Chadha said on X, "Today, exercising the provisions of the Constitution of India, more than two-thirds of the AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha have merged with the BJP. Seven MPs have signed the document, which was submitted to the Hon’ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. I, along with two other MPs, personally handed over the signed documents."

"BJP has betrayed Punjab...The same washing machine was used at the party of Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress...BJP has no base in Punjab," said Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin arrived at the party headquarters in Delhi following the announcement that over two-thirds of Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs would merge with the BJP, reported ANI.

Reacting to the exit of Raghav Chadha and six other MPs from AAP to join BJP, AAP’s national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda launched a sharp attack, questioning their integrity and motives.

Dhanda said, "I believe that a person’s identity is defined by their character. Did Mahatma Gandhi not have the option to compromise, to bow down, or to join hands with his opponents? Did Subhas Chandra Bose or Bhagat Singh not have such options? But they chose the path of struggle, and that is why they are remembered in history, they chose to fight and proved their character. But what is reflected in their character? It is betrayal and dishonesty, which is why they chose to compromise. If an Enforcement Directorate raid takes place at an MP’s residence and then six to seven MPs leave within days, it suggests fear of the ED and weaknesses in their character. Disturbed by the good work being done in Punjab, the BJP has launched this ‘Operation Lotus’. They realised they could not succeed through democratic means, so they resorted to this conspiracy.”

“If Raghav Chadha believes that the party has deviated from its path, then he should first resign from the positions given to him by the party before making such claims. They were not directly elected by the people; they were sent to the Rajya Sabha by AAP MLAs," he added.

In a post on X, BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya said, "2/3 of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs walk out. 7 MPs leave the party. The Aam Aadmi Party is in complete disarray.

Raghav Chadha, Sandip Pathak, and Ashok Mittal address a press conference announcing a split and their move towards the Bharatiya Janata Party. The exodus doesn’t stop there. Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Swati Maliwal, and Vikramjit Sawhney also desert AAP.

The collapse is no longer speculation, it’s unfolding in real time."

Reacting to the announcement of over two-thirds of AAP Rajya Sabha MPs joining BJP, Tejashwi Yadav, leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly, said that such political shifts are often driven by “fear or greed.”

"Some people compromise, get scared, and join the BJP. They may have joined out of greed or fear," said Yadav.

Sanjay Singh alleged that central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are being misused to pressure and break away AAP leaders.

Singh also warned that the people of Punjab would not forgive the MPs who left the party, calling their move a betrayal of the public mandate.

The seeds of the split were sown after Chadha was removed as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, a move widely seen as a signal of his diminishing influence within the party. Following his removal, Chadha publicly declared that he had been “silenced, not defeated”, hinting at deeper internal disagreements. The leadership’s decision triggered a sharp exchange, with Chadha accusing the party of running a “scripted, coordinated” campaign against him. He released multiple videos defending his parliamentary record and asserting that he had consistently raised public issues.

Earlier, AAP leaders launched a strong offensive against Chadha, accusing him of failing to represent Punjab’s interests in Parliament. Senior leaders, including Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora, alleged that Chadha did not raise critical issues such as pending rural development funds, GST losses, and flood relief compensation.

They described his silence as a “betrayal” of the mandate given by Punjab’s people. The criticism extended to claims that Chadha avoided confronting the Centre and instead focused on less consequential issues.

Raghav Chadha praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the government has taken several bold decisions that previous leaders may have hesitated to implement.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has taken several strong decisions that earlier leaders were perhaps hesitant to take, whether it is uprooting terrorism or bringing India among the top global economies. The people have endorsed this leadership not once, not twice, but three times. We all feel fortunate to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the determination of Home Minister Amit Shah, and we will continue to work tirelessly for the nation. To those who felt disappointed that, as a Member of Parliament, I might not be able to raise the issues of ordinary citizens because my own party had silenced my voice, I want to assure them not to worry. I will continue to raise all your issues with the same commitment, enthusiasm, and energy," he said.

In a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), several of its Rajya Sabha MPs—including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Ashok Mittal—resigned from the party on Friday.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Pathak confirmed his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chadha further claimed that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha members have stepped down and are set to merge with the BJP as a separate faction.

He also stated that other leaders, including Swati Maliwal and Harbhajan Singh, have exited the party. According to the leaders, as many as seven out of AAP’s 10 Rajya Sabha MPs have now quit, marking a significant internal split.