Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha with Nitin Nabin and others (Image/ANI) NEW DELHI: The exit of Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha along with six other members has significantly altered the composition of the Upper House, strengthening the ruling BJP-led NDA while sharply reducing the Aam Aadmi Party’s presence. The move has also hit the opposition camp, whose strength has dropped from 84 to 77 members after the AAP split.The BJP’s tally in the Rajya Sabha has risen from 106 to 113 following the merger of the breakaway AAP MPs, further consolidating its position in the House. The Upper House has a total strength of 245 members.In contrast, the AAP’s strength has dropped sharply from 10 to just three members.The development comes after Chadha, along with fellow MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, announced their exit from AAP and decision to join the BJP, triggering a broader split within the party. MPs including Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney are also part of the group that backed the move.Announcing the decision, Chadha had sharply criticised his former party. “The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals. The party is no longer working for the country or in the national interest, but for personal gain,” he said.He also stated that the split had the backing of a majority of AAP’s MPs in the Upper House. “We have decided that we, the two-thirds members belonging to the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP,” Chadha said.NDA gains, BJP strengthens positionWith the addition of seven MPs, the BJP has further consolidated its position in the Rajya Sabha with 113 members.The broader National Democratic Alliance (NDA) continues to hold a comfortable edge, with allies such as the Janata Dal (United) with four members and the AIADMK with five backing the coalition.AAP reduced to just three MPsFor the AAP, the split has resulted in a dramatic fall in its parliamentary strength. The party is now left with just three MPs: Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta and Balbir Singh Seechewal.Sanjay Singh, who remains the party’s most vocal face in Parliament, has strongly criticised the defectors, accusing the BJP of orchestrating the split. He alleged that central agencies were being used as part of a larger political strategy and termed the departing MPs as ‘traitors.’“Operation Lotus is being executed on the Punjab government… ED and CBI are being used to carry out this Operation Lotus… The people of Punjab will never forget these traitors,” he said.Impact on Opposition blocThe shift has also impacted the opposition camp, of which AAP is a part. The bloc’s combined strength in the Rajya Sabha has now come down to 77 members, from 84 earlier following the exit of seven MPs.The bloc is led by Congress (29 members), followed by Trinamool Congress (13) and DMK (8), along with parties such as Samajwadi Party (4), CPI(M) (3), RJD (3), J&K National Conference (3), CPI (2), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (2), IUML (2), NCP (4) and AAP (3).A political turning pointThe developments mark a major political turning point for AAP, which had steadily built its presence in the Rajya Sabha over recent years. The sudden loss of two-thirds of its MPs not only impacts its numerical strength but also raises questions about internal cohesion within the party.For the BJP, the gains further strengthen its standing in the Upper House, giving it greater room to push its legislative agenda with reduced reliance on external support.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhy Israel Is Relocating Hidden Jews From India-s Northeast Amid War PressuresAshok Mittal Joins BJP After Replacing Raghav Chadha In RS & ED Raids | WatchSamrat Choudhary, Tejashwi Yadav Clash Over CM Post, Stability & Lalu LegacyHow Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal Exit Triggers AAP CrisisAAP Targets Raghav Chadha & MPs Over Exit, Says they ‘Betrayed The People Of Punjab’Meet The 7 AAP MPs Who Resigned And Joined BJP In Big Political Shock To KejriwalRaghav Chadha Quits AAP, Joins BJP With Six Other MPs | WatchBihar CM Samrat Choudhary Clears Floor Test, NDA Government Proves Majority In AssemblyTamil Nadu Polls See Surge in First-Time Voters, Youth Drive Record TurnoutBJP Declares Yogi Adityanath as CM Face for 2027 UP Assembly Elections123PhotostoriesWhat makes their marriage so strong? 5 relationship secrets to learn from Anjali and Sachin TendulkarAre you loading your dishwasher the right way? 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NEW DELHI: The exit of Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha along with six other members has significantly altered the composition of the Upper House, strengthening the ruling BJP-led NDA while sharply reducing the Aam Aadmi Party’s presence. The move has also hit the opposition camp, whose strength has dropped from 84 to 77 members after the AAP split.The BJP’s tally in the Rajya Sabha has risen from 106 to 113 following the merger of the breakaway AAP MPs, further consolidating its position in the House. The Upper House has a total strength of 245 members.In contrast, the AAP’s strength has dropped sharply from 10 to just three members.The development comes after Chadha, along with fellow MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, announced their exit from AAP and decision to join the BJP, triggering a broader split within the party. MPs including Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney are also part of the group that backed the move.Announcing the decision, Chadha had sharply criticised his former party. “The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals. The party is no longer working for the country or in the national interest, but for personal gain,” he said.He also stated that the split had the backing of a majority of AAP’s MPs in the Upper House. “We have decided that we, the two-thirds members belonging to the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP,” Chadha said.
NDA gains, BJP strengthens position
With the addition of seven MPs, the BJP has further consolidated its position in the Rajya Sabha with 113 members.The broader National Democratic Alliance (NDA) continues to hold a comfortable edge, with allies such as the Janata Dal (United) with four members and the AIADMK with five backing the coalition.
AAP reduced to just three MPs
For the AAP, the split has resulted in a dramatic fall in its parliamentary strength. The party is now left with just three MPs: Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta and Balbir Singh Seechewal.Sanjay Singh, who remains the party’s most vocal face in Parliament, has strongly criticised the defectors, accusing the BJP of orchestrating the split. He alleged that central agencies were being used as part of a larger political strategy and termed the departing MPs as ‘traitors.’“Operation Lotus is being executed on the Punjab government… ED and CBI are being used to carry out this Operation Lotus… The people of Punjab will never forget these traitors,” he said.
Impact on Opposition bloc
The shift has also impacted the opposition camp, of which AAP is a part. The bloc’s combined strength in the Rajya Sabha has now come down to 77 members, from 84 earlier following the exit of seven MPs.The bloc is led by Congress (29 members), followed by Trinamool Congress (13) and DMK (8), along with parties such as Samajwadi Party (4), CPI(M) (3), RJD (3), J&K National Conference (3), CPI (2), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (2), IUML (2), NCP (4) and AAP (3).
A political turning point
The developments mark a major political turning point for AAP, which had steadily built its presence in the Rajya Sabha over recent years. The sudden loss of two-thirds of its MPs not only impacts its numerical strength but also raises questions about internal cohesion within the party.For the BJP, the gains further strengthen its standing in the Upper House, giving it greater room to push its legislative agenda with reduced reliance on external support.
