- Arvind Kejriwal’s attempt to retain MPs failed as resignations preceded his meeting.
- Seven AAP MPs quit, citing deviation from party ideals, and joined BJP.
- Internal discussions about leadership changes fueled the mass resignation.
- AAP alleges BJP orchestrated
Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal reportedly attempted to defuse internal tensions within the party by offering reassurances to dissenting MPs, but the effort fell through as several leaders resigned before meeting him.
Kejriwal had invited the MPs to his residence on Friday evening to address their concerns. However, the meeting did not materialise, as the lawmakers had already decided to exit the party earlier, according to a report by NDTV.
Mass Exit Jolts AAP
The development comes after seven AAP MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahni, and Swati Maliwal, quit the party and merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Chadha said the decision stemmed from concerns that the party had deviated from its founding ideals.
Decision Taken Before Meeting Kejriwal
According to the NDTV report, Kejriwal had proposed that at least five of the six dissatisfied leaders could be given tickets in the next term if they chose to resign now.
He is believed to have told them that if they had apprehensions, they could step down and would be considered again in future elections.
Despite the outreach, the MPs had already made up their minds by Thursday morning to leave the party. Initially, they had not coordinated as a group, but discussions gained momentum after Chadha was replaced as Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha by Mittal.
Ironically, Mittal, who replaced Chadha in the Rajya Sabha, also joined the group that exited the party.
BJP Welcomes Leaders, AAP Alleges Poaching
The BJP welcomed the leaders, with party president Nitin Nabin greeting them.
Meanwhile, AAP accused the BJP of orchestrating “Operation Lotus” to lure its MPs and weaken its governance, particularly in Punjab.
“The AAP that I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth has completely strayed from its principles, values and core morals,” Raghav Chadha told reporters.
He added that the merger followed constitutional provisions allowing two-thirds of a party’s MPs to join another party.
The exit marks one of the biggest crises for the AAP since its formation 14 years ago, raising questions about internal cohesion and political strategy ahead of upcoming electoral challenges and elections in Punjab.
