Raghav Chadha news LIVE updates: AAP to approach Vice President, seek disqualification of 7 MPs after BJP merger

# AAP Seeks Ouster of 7 MPs Over BJP Merger

**By Senior Political Desk, The National Pulse**
**April 25, 2026**

**New Delhi:** In a seismic political development that threatens to reshape the power dynamics in the Upper House of Parliament, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched an aggressive legal and parliamentary counter-offensive against seven of its Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament. After these lawmakers abruptly announced a merger with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), AAP’s top leadership mobilized swiftly. The party will formally approach Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan today, seeking the immediate disqualification of the rebel MPs under the stringent provisions of the anti-defection law. This move aims to prevent a critical shift in legislative arithmetic just ahead of key parliamentary sessions. [Source: Hindustan Times | Additional: Parliamentary Press Briefings].

## The Midnight Defection: Anatomy of a Political Coup

The political corridors of New Delhi were jolted late Friday when seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs convened a sudden press conference to announce their decision to merge their legislative faction with the BJP. Prominent figures reportedly involved in the faction include Ashok Mittal and Swati Maliwal, triggering intense speculation regarding the internal stability of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.

The rebel lawmakers cited “ideological disillusionment” and a desire to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s developmental agenda as the primary drivers behind their unprecedented departure. “Our commitment has always been to the people and the nation’s progress. Over the past few months, it became increasingly clear that the AAP’s confrontational politics were hindering constructive governance,” stated one of the defecting parliamentarians during the televised address.

The AAP leadership, however, was quick to condemn the move as a manufactured crisis orchestrated by the BJP. Senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha spearheaded the party’s public response, aggressively dismantling rumors regarding his own political allegiances and reaffirming his commitment to the party. Chadha characterized the defection as an unconstitutional power grab, alleging that the ruling party employed “coercive tactics and central investigative agencies” to intimidate the lawmakers into switching sides.

## The Tenth Schedule: Decoding the Legal Battleground

The crux of the impending parliamentary showdown centers entirely on the interpretation of the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, popularly known as the Anti-Defection Law. Enacted in 1985 to curb political opportunism, the law stipulates that a Member of Parliament can be disqualified for voluntarily giving up the membership of their political party.

However, Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule provides an exception in the case of a “merger.” According to the statute, disqualification does not apply if a political party merges with another party, provided that at least two-thirds of the members of the legislature party agree to the merger.

Given AAP’s historical strength of 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, the defection of exactly seven members comfortably crosses the required 66.6% (two-thirds) threshold. The rebel MPs are leveraging this exact mathematical loophole to protect their parliamentary membership while transferring their allegiance to the BJP.

Despite this arithmetic advantage, AAP’s legal cell is preparing a robust counter-argument. “The law is clear: a merger of the legislature party is only valid if it is preceded by a merger of the original political party,” explains Dr. Vikramaditya Singh, a leading constitutional scholar and former parliamentary advisor. “AAP, as a national political entity, has not merged with the BJP. Therefore, a breakaway faction of MPs cannot unilaterally declare a merger to evade disqualification. The Supreme Court’s historical rulings on the Shiv Sena and NCP crises in Maharashtra provide substantial precedent for AAP’s stance.” [Source: Independent Legal Analysis].

## Raghav Chadha’s Crucial Petition to the Vice President

Leading the charge for AAP, Raghav Chadha has been designated to present the formal disqualification petition to Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan. The petition relies heavily on the assertion that the defectors have voluntarily given up their party membership by colluding with a rival political entity, an act that traditionally warrants immediate expulsion from the House.

According to internal party sources, AAP’s petition outlines three major demands:
1. **Immediate suspension:** Barring the seven MPs from participating in any parliamentary proceedings or voting until a final decision is reached.
2. **Expedited hearings:** Requesting the Rajya Sabha Chairman to constitute a privilege committee or initiate personal hearings within 48 hours to prevent the BJP from capitalizing on the altered House arithmetic.
3. **Rejection of the ‘Merger’ claim:** Formally recognizing the action as a defection rather than a legitimate constitutional merger under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule.

The role of Chairman CP Radhakrishnan is now under intense national scrutiny. Parliamentary precedents, such as the 2019 incident where four out of six Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Rajya Sabha MPs merged with the BJP, highlight the vast discretionary powers held by the Chairman in recognizing such mergers. The speed and nature of the Chairman’s ruling will definitively shape the outcome of this crisis.

## Rajya Sabha Arithmetic: Implications for the BJP

The sudden shift of seven MPs carries profound implications for the legislative arithmetic in the Upper House. The BJP, which has historically relied on the support of regional allies and nominated members to push crucial, contentious legislation through the Rajya Sabha, stands to gain a massive strategic advantage.

**Projected Impact on Rajya Sabha Composition (Estimates as of April 2026):**

| Bloc / Party | Pre-Defection Strength | Post-Defection Strength | Shift Impact |
| :— | :— | :— | :— |
| **NDA (BJP & Allies)** | Approaching Majority | Strengthened Majority | +7 Seats |
| **INDIA Bloc (Opposition)** | Strong Minority | Significantly Weakened | -7 Seats |
| **Aam Aadmi Party** | 10 | 3 | -70% Reduction |

If the Chairman officially recognizes the merger, the BJP will directly absorb these seven seats, edging them closer to an absolute, unassailable majority in the Upper House. This would effectively neutralize the opposition’s ability to stall constitutional amendments and major policy overhauls, a power they have strategically utilized over the past decade.

For the INDIA bloc, of which AAP has been a vocal and combative constituent, this defection represents a catastrophic blow to opposition unity. It exposes vulnerabilities within regional parties and amplifies concerns over the opposition’s capacity to maintain internal cohesion under immense political pressure.

## The BJP’s Counter-Narrative: “A Vote Against Corruption”

The Bharatiya Janata Party has predictably welcomed the rebel lawmakers, framing the merger as a rejection of AAP’s internal governance and a vote of confidence in the central government. Senior BJP strategists have capitalized on this development to reinforce their political narrative against Arvind Kejriwal’s administration, which has been embroiled in a series of protracted legal battles and corruption allegations over recent years.

“This is not a defection; it is a course correction by leaders who are tired of defending the indefensible,” stated a senior BJP national spokesperson during a morning press briefing. “These seven MPs recognized that their previous leadership was mired in controversy and lacked a vision for national growth. By choosing to merge with the BJP, they are choosing development over dynastic and corrupt politics. The constitutional provisions are clear, and they have the required two-thirds majority to validate this merger.” [Source: Hindustan Times Live Updates].

The BJP’s legal defense for the MPs is expected to mirror successful arguments used in past state-level defections. They will likely emphasize that the legislative wing operates with a degree of autonomy from the organizational wing of the party, and that securing a two-thirds majority inherently legitimizes their collective decision to merge.

## Future Outlook: A Looming Supreme Court Intervention?

As Raghav Chadha and the AAP delegation prepare to formally table their disqualification petition with Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, legal experts agree that this dispute will inevitably escalate to the highest judicial level.

If the Rajya Sabha Chairman validates the merger, AAP is guaranteed to file an immediate writ petition in the Supreme Court of India. The impending legal battle will force the judiciary to revisit the nuanced distinction between a “party split” and a “party merger,” potentially leading to landmark clarifications on the Tenth Schedule.

Until a definitive ruling is issued, the fate of the seven MPs hangs in the balance. For the Aam Aadmi Party, the crisis represents an existential test of its political resilience and organizational loyalty. For the BJP, it is a calculated masterstroke that could permanently alter the legislative landscape of the Rajya Sabha. As the nation watches this constitutional drama unfold, the foundational principles of India’s anti-defection framework are once again being put to the ultimate test.