7 former-AAP MPs Formally Join BJP; Consolidate NDA Strength in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) further solidified its dominance in the Upper House on Monday as seven Rajya Sabha members, who recently defected from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), were officially integrated into the party. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju formally welcomed the group, marking a significant shift in the parliamentary landscape.

RS Seat Tally Realignment

Following the formal acceptance of the merger by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, the House released an updated list of party positions. The strategic move has pushed the BJP’s strength to 113 members, up from 107. Conversely, AAP’s presence has been reduced to a mere three representatives—Sanjay Singh, Narain Dass Gupta, and Sant Balbir Singh—effectively stripping the party of its primary influence in the chamber.

The group transitioning to the BJP includes:

• Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak

• Swati Maliwal and Harbhajan Singh

• Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikramjit Singh Sahney

Rijiju Applauds Parliamentary Decorum

Welcoming the new members via social media, Minister Rijiju highlighted the conduct of the seven MPs during their tenure. He noted that despite the high-pressure environment of the Rajya Sabha, these individuals maintained a standard of discipline. “For a long time, I’ve observed that these seven Honorable MPs have not resorted to abusive language and never created any indiscipline or unparliamentary conduct,” Rijiju stated.

He framed the merger as a transition toward “nation-building” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, while dismissing the opposition bloc as the “Tukde-Tukde INDI Alliance.”

Constitutional Validity of the Merger

The move avoided the pitfalls of the anti-defection law through a precise application of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. By moving as a collective of seven, the defectors represented two-thirds of AAP’s original ten-member Rajya Sabha contingent. Under current laws, such a majority is permitted to merge with another party without facing disqualification, providing the group with full legal protection to continue their terms as BJP legislators.