Raghav Chadha’s announcement that he and fellow AAP MPs are merging with the BJP has left the Aam Aadmi Party short of a significant chunk of its Rajya Sabha strength. With AAP holding 10 Rajya Sabha seats, at least seven members are part of the move.
At the press conference, Chadha stated: “We have decided that we, the two-thirds members belonging to the AAP in Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP.”
Here’s who the seven MPs are
Raghav Chadha One of AAP’s most recognisable faces, Chadha has been a key spokesperson and strategist for the party. A Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, he played a central role in shaping AAP’s national narrative and outreach.
Swati Maliwal An activist-turned-politician, Maliwal came to national attention during the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement. She served as Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women from 2015 to 2024, leading campaigns on women’s safety and anti-trafficking. Elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2024, she had been publicly critical of AAP’s leadership in the years since.
Harbhajan Singh The former India cricketer, widely known as “Bhajji,” joined AAP and was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2022. He campaigned actively for the party and described his political journey as a learning phase after a celebrated cricket career.
Sandeep Pathak Regarded as one of AAP’s core strategists, Pathak was instrumental in the party’s 2022 Punjab landslide victory. He served as AAP’s National General Secretary (Organisation) and was central to the party’s expansion beyond Delhi.
Ashok Mittal Founder of Lovely Professional University, Mittal entered politics with AAP and became a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab in 2022. He has contributed to parliamentary discussions on education and entrepreneurship policy.
Vikram Sahney An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sahney has been a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab representing AAP. In Parliament, he has raised issues around agriculture, water management, and industry, while also backing social initiatives including education support for underprivileged children.
Rajinder Gupta An industrialist, Gupta entered the Rajya Sabha in 2025. Known for his roles in Punjab’s planning boards across governments, he has focused on economic development and rural employment.
If the merger of seven Rajya Sabha MPs goes through, it would reduce AAP’s presence in the Upper House and hand the BJP a potential boost heading into the next Punjab Assembly elections.
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