Raghav Chadha Leads AAP Exodus: The Two-Thirds Rule That Shielded Seven MPs

In a dramatic political development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha announced on Friday that seven of the party’s ten Rajya Sabha MPs — including himself — were departing to align more closely with the BJP. The group includes prominent names such as Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahney. Chadha cited AAP’s deviation from its founding principles as the driving force behind this decision, stating the party had “completely strayed from its values.”

The Constitutional Safeguard That Made It Possible

At the heart of this move lies India’s anti-defection law, introduced via the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985 and enshrined in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. The law disqualifies legislators who switch parties individually, but carves out an exemption for mergers — provided at least two-thirds of the legislature party consents. With seven of AAP’s ten Rajya Sabha MPs acting in unison, the group cleared that threshold precisely, rendering their exit a legally recognised merger rather than a punishable defection.

Why the Numbers Game Was Critical

Had Chadha acted alone or with fewer colleagues, he would have immediately faced disqualification and risked losing his Rajya Sabha seat. By carefully consolidating two-thirds of AAP’s upper house members, the group legally insulated themselves. “More than two-thirds are with us,” Chadha confirmed at the press conference, adding that all formal documentation had already been submitted to the Rajya Sabha chairman.

Chadha, once one of AAP’s most recognisable national faces, had recently been removed as the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha — a move widely seen as a precursor to Friday’s split.