Defection Drama: AAP's Rajya Sabha MPs Jump Ship to the BJP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was shaken on Friday when seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs resigned from the party and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing a deviation from its founding values. Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, and Sandeep Pathak were among those who made the surprising announcement.

The mass exodus was announced at a press conference in Delhi's Constitution Club, prompting AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal to accuse the BJP of launching 'Operation Lotus' to weaken his party. Meanwhile, BJP President Nitin Nabin welcomed the defectors with traditional sweets and best wishes, highlighting the shakeup's potential significance.

The defections come amidst allegations of internal strife within AAP, attributed to diminishing political roles and fear of central agency scrutiny. The move casts a shadow on AAP ahead of crucial Assembly elections in Punjab, and the party's leadership is scrambling to keep its remaining members united amid this tumultuous period.

(With inputs from agencies.)