New Delhi: Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has reacted strongly to the ongoing political crisis within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), stating that if the party had been on the right path, leaders like Raghav Chadha would not have left.
The internal rift in AAP has intensified after Raghav Chadha, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, announced their exit from the party and decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move has created a major political upheaval at the national level.
Speaking in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district, Anna Hazare said that while democracy allows individuals to express their opinions, such mass resignations indicate serious underlying issues within the party. He suggested that the leaders must have faced significant problems that led to their decision.
This development comes shortly after Chadha was removed from the post of Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, sparking speculation about his future political plans. However, his move to exit the party along with other MPs was largely unexpected.
In a joint press conference in Delhi, Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak confirmed their resignation from AAP and formally announced their joining of the BJP. Chadha claimed that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs would now function as a separate group.
Criticizing the party leadership, Hazare indirectly pointed towards leadership failure, stating that such situations arise when a party deviates from its core principles. It is notable that AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, was founded in 2012 in the backdrop of Hazare’s anti-corruption movement.
With seven out of ten Rajya Sabha MPs leaving the party, AAP’s strength in the Upper House has weakened significantly. Political analysts view this as a major setback for the party ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
