One of the biggest political events has been happening in New Delhi, as Raghav Chadha quits the Aam Aadmi Party and declares a merger of a large chunk of its members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The flight is just days following an apparent internal division among AAP that culminated into an open political divorce.
Chadha, a former leader of the party as well as one of the main national faces of AAP, announced it in a press conference, which is one of the most dramatic changes in AAP party strength in the parliament in recent years.
Rift Within AAP Results in Exit
It comes after Chadha was recently ousted as AAP leader in the Rajya Sabha, a decision that had already indicated that the two were heading towards a major clash in the party. In the last week, there had been acute exchanges between Chadha and AAP leaders that had suggested that reconciliation was not a likely possibility.
When asked why he did this, Chadha replied that the party had lost its founding principles and was no longer in the national interest. He termed himself as the right man in the wrong party implying that ideological differences had been accumulating over the years.
BJP Merger With Seven MPs.
Six other MPs of the Rajya Sabha have also left AAP along with Chadha:
- Raghav Chadha
- Swati Maliwal
- Harbhajan Singh
- Sandeep Pathak
- Ashok Mittal
- Rajinder Gupta
- Vikram Sahni
This group, which is almost two-thirds of AAP representation in the Rajya Sabha, is capable of legally merging with another party under the provisions of the constitution in terms of anti-defection laws, according to Chadha.
Compliments on BJP Leadership
Chadha openly supported the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in his statement. He attributed the government in office to have made decisive actions on national security and economic growth.
He has indicated that the group is eager to serve under the BJP leadership and help in national development, and that represented a definite ideological change in the model of governance AAP had to the national agenda that the BJP championed.
The Political Effect and Role of Political Impact and What Comes Next
The development may have a profound effect on the balance of power in the Rajya Sabha where numbers are very important in approving important legislation. The AAP strength in the upper house would likely be diluted with BJP possibly gaining a tactical edge.
In the case of AAP, the resignation of the top leadership casts doubt on the issue of internal stability and leadership issues. In the case of BJP, the merger empowers its parliamentary strength and is an indication that it can win over leaders in other parties.
The next few days should expect formalities to be fulfilled on the merger, and political responses on both sides. The shift also preconditions the stronger political struggle, in particular, the upcoming national elections and political programs in the legislative bodies.
Also Read:
