NEW DELHI: In a dramatic political development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha deputy leader Ashok Kumar Mittal, who was appointed to the post just 22 days ago replacing Raghav Chadha, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move has deepened the ongoing crisis within AAP.
Mittal, along with Chadha and several other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, announced a collective decision to break away from the party and merge with the BJP. They cited ideological drift and loss of core values within AAP as the primary reasons for their departure.
“The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, has completely deviated from its principles and is no longer working in the national interest,” Chadha said during a press conference announcing the split.
Mittal’s defection is particularly striking given his recent elevation within the party’s parliamentary structure. His appointment as deputy leader came just weeks ago after internal reshuffles.
The AAP MPs who joined the BJP reportedly include Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and others alongside Mittal.
This development comes amid months of internal churn within AAP’s parliamentary ranks, with multiple senior leaders openly questioning the party’s direction and leadership style. Mittal, a founder of Lovely Professional University and one of AAP’s nominated MPs from Punjab, had earlier downplayed speculation about internal unrest, calling such reports “rumours”. However, his sudden political shift marks one of the most significant resignations in the party’s recent parliamentary history.
The AAP, which currently holds 10 Rajya Sabha seats, is now facing a major organisational setback as multiple MPs exit in a coordinated political realignment.
