Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of undermining Punjab's political mandate after Raghav Chadha, a senior leader, resigned from AAP to join the BJP. Chadha's departure is significant as it indicates a potential mass defection, with around two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha members, including notable figures like former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, expected to follow him. Chadha criticized AAP for drifting from its founding ideals, labeling the party as 'corrupt and compromised.' This internal rupture comes after Chadha was removed as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, signaling a breakdown in relations with the party leadership. The BJP is likely to benefit from this shift, strengthening its position in the Rajya Sabha while delivering a setback to AAP, which has been a key opposition party in Punjab. AAP leaders have accused the BJP of orchestrating a campaign to destabilize opposition parties, referring to the defections as part of 'Operation Lotus.'