On Friday, Raghav Chadha, along with fellow Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a significant political shift. This move follows Chadha's resignation from AAP earlier in the day, which he attributed to the party's departure from its founding principles, labeling it as 'corrupt and compromised.' The merger, announced at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, is expected to weaken AAP's influence in the Rajya Sabha, where it had previously established a modest but impactful presence. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal reacted strongly, accusing the BJP of undermining the political mandate of Punjab and alleging that this defection is part of a broader strategy, termed 'Operation Lotus,' aimed at destabilizing opposition parties and hindering the Bhagwant Mann government. This defection represents one of the most significant internal splits within AAP since its inception, with further announcements anticipated in the near future.