The recent resignation of Raghav Chadha (Member of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party) and six others to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reignited discussions around the anti-defection law in India. This law, established through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985, prevents elected representatives from switching parties post-election. According to PDT Achary, a former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, for Chadha and his colleagues to escape disqualification, the AAP must formally merge with the BJP, which is a requirement under the law. This situation mirrors the recent actions of Ajit Pawar (leader of the Nationalist Congress Party) and Eknath Shinde (of the Shiv Sena), who successfully avoided disqualification by demonstrating that they had the support of over two-thirds of their party legislators, thus being recognized as the legitimate factions. The Maharashtra Assembly Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, supported this view, stating that the anti-defection provisions should not suppress internal dissent. The Supreme Court has also weighed in, clarifying that the law does not recognize splits as valid defenses against disqualification, emphasizing that only formal mergers backed by a two-thirds majority can provide protection. This legal framework aims to maintain political stability by curbing opportunistic defections, which have historically plagued Indian politics.