NEW DELHI: Following a significant defection to the BJP, Raghav Chadha, former deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Rajya Sabha, expressed his discontent with the party on Saturday, stating that he and several colleagues did not leave out of “fear, but out of disappointment and disgust.”
Chadha emphasized his discontent at a press conference, countering claims from AAP leaders that the defections were driven by fear. “We left the Aam Aadmi Party not out of fear but because of disappointment, disenchantment, and disgust,” he remarked. He attributed the party’s poor performance in the recent Delhi Assembly elections to the “Sheesh Mahal” controversy, suggesting it tarnished AAP’s reputation.
He noted, “If there was one major reason for the Aam Aadmi Party’s loss in the Delhi elections, the Sheesh Mahal was one of the main reasons for the party’s defeat. But today, not even a year has passed since the Delhi elections ended, and Sheesh Mahal Part Two has come.” Chadha raised concerns about how remaining AAP members would address questions from locals regarding the ongoing controversies.
Chadha further stated that many dedicated members of AAP, who had invested their efforts into the party, felt increasingly sidelined. He remarked, “Today, every true patriot who nurtured the Aam Aadmi Party with their blood and sweat… has either left the Aam Aadmi Party or is leaving it.”
Highlighting a constitutional perspective, Chadha asserted that elected MPs have the right to leave their party if they believe it has succumbed to corrupt practices. “Not one, not two, but seven MPs are leaving the Aam Aadmi Party together because they believe that the Aam Aadmi Party has fallen into corrupt and compromised hands,” he asserted.
Chadha’s comments come after he officially announced the split with AAP at a press conference in Delhi, highlighting that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha members would now align with the BJP. Accompanying him were fellow defectors Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, as well as others including Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahni.
The exodus follows escalating tensions between Chadha and AAP leadership, culminating in his removal as deputy leader. Senior party members had accused him of neglecting to confront the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi effectively. His absence during critical events, including the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal in March 2024 on accusations related to the excise policy, further underscored his growing estrangement from the party.
Additionally, senior party officials alleged that Chadha had been hesitant to support measures aligned with AAP’s positions, citing his refusal to sign a notice demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his failure to participate in parliamentary walkouts. In response, Chadha dismissed these accusations as “white lies” and challenged the party to present evidence.
