In a major political shift, seven members of parliament from India's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including prominent leader Raghav Chaddha, have resigned and joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move has significantly reduced AAP's strength in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament.

Chaddha's decision came three weeks after he was removed as deputy leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha. The defection of two-thirds of AAP's MPs in the upper house has sparked fears of political instability and raised questions about the party's future.

With the exit of seven MPs, AAP's representation in the Rajya Sabha has plummeted from 10 to just three members. This severely hampers the party's ability to influence legislation and parliamentary proceedings.

The timing is particularly critical as it comes ahead of the 2027 assembly elections in Punjab, a key stronghold for AAP. Analysts suggest the defections could weaken the party's grassroots support and electoral prospects.

Under India's anti-defection law, a merger is exempt from disqualification if two-thirds of a party's legislators agree to join another party. This legal provision allowed Chaddha and the other defectors to avoid penalties, further complicating AAP's position.

Source: www.dw.com