Seven AAP MPs Join BJP, Boosting NDA's Strength in Rajya Sabha

In a significant political shift, seven MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as confirmed by Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju extended a warm welcome to the new members, describing the induction as a step towards 'nation-building' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Rijiju, in a statement on social media platform X, highlighted the disciplined conduct of Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikramjit Singh Sahney, who have now joined the BJP Parliamentary Party. With this merger, the BJP's strength in the Upper House has risen to 113, marking a noteworthy consolidation of power.

The AAP's remaining presence in the Rajya Sabha has significantly diminished, reduced now to just three members. While AAP MP Sanjay Singh has lodged a petition challenging the merger's legality, citing constitutional provisions, the BJP has embraced this development as a boost to its numbers and influence within the Parliament's Upper House.

(With inputs from agencies.)