The recent exit of seven Rajya Sabha lawmakers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including prominent leaders Sandeep Pathak and Raghav Chadha, has created a significant void in the party's organizational structure and parliamentary representation. This move, referred to as 'Operation Lotus', reduces AAP's presence in the Rajya Sabha to just three members—two from Delhi and one from Punjab. Raghav Chadha, who held multiple key positions including national spokesperson and member of the National Executive, announced the merger with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on social media, stating that over two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha members had signed the merger documents. Sandeep Pathak, who served as AAP's national general secretary and was credited with strategic successes in recent elections, also joined the BJP, raising alarms about AAP's internal cohesion. Party leaders have described the exits as a 'backstab', highlighting the challenges of maintaining loyalty amid pressures from central agencies. As AAP attempts to expand its influence beyond Delhi, the leadership crisis poses questions about its future direction and opportunities for emerging leaders within the party.