BJP Strengthens Rajya Sabha Presence with AAP Defectors

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has bolstered its presence in the Rajya Sabha following the incorporation of seven Members of Parliament (MPs) who recently left the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This development increases the BJP's strength to 113 members, while reducing AAP's representation in the Upper House to merely three.

Among those who switched allegiance are Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Ashok Mittal, who formally joined the BJP on Friday in the presence of senior party officials. Alongside them, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal have also transitioned from AAP to BJP.

In response, AAP MP Sanjay Singh petitioned Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan to disqualify the defectors under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, alleging an invalid merger. Although the provision allows for disqualification due to defection, an exception exists for mergers involving two-thirds of a party's members, which was met in this case. The political realignment has drawn strong accusations of betrayal from AAP, while earning a celebratory reception from the BJP. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)