Significant Shift: Seven AAP MPs, Including Raghav Chadha, Merge with BJP
Raghav Chadha, 6 AAP MPs' merger with BJP accepted; BJP crosses 113 in RS
Business Standard
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The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has approved the merger of seven Aam Aadmi Party MPs, including Raghav Chadha, with the Bharatiya Janata Party, increasing BJP's strength to 113 in the Upper House. This move reduces AAP's representation from 10 to 3 members, amidst legal disputes over the merger's validity.
- 01Seven AAP MPs, including Raghav Chadha, have merged with BJP.
- 02BJP's strength in the Rajya Sabha rises to 113, while AAP's drops to 3.
- 03The merger is claimed to meet the two-thirds requirement under the anti-defection law.
- 04AAP contests the merger's legality, seeking disqualification of the MPs.
- 05Chadha criticized AAP for straying from its founding principles.
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The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has accepted the merger request of seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs, including Raghav Chadha, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This merger boosts BJP's strength in the Rajya Sabha to 113 members, while the National Democratic Alliance surpasses 140. AAP's representation decreases from 10 to just 3 members following this significant political shift. The MPs involved in the merger include Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Rajinder Gupta. They argued that their merger complies with the two-thirds requirement under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which protects them from disqualification under the anti-defection law. However, AAP has challenged this move, labeling it legally unsustainable without the party's consent and is seeking the disqualification of the MPs. Following the exit, AAP is now represented by Sanjay Singh, N. D. Gupta, and Balbir Singh in the Rajya Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that the seven MPs are now part of the BJP parliamentary party. Chadha had previously expressed his discontent with AAP, stating that the party had deviated from its founding principles.
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This merger could reshape the political landscape in India, affecting legislative decisions and party dynamics in the Rajya Sabha.
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