Ajay Maken intensifies attack on AAP after seven Rajya Sabha MPs switch to BJP, raising questions over party’s direction.
April 27, 2026: A major political shift unfolded as seven Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party, significantly altering the balance in the Upper House. Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken launched a sharp attack on Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that the party has drifted from its roots and become dominated by wealthy individuals.
The seven MPs—Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney, Harbhajan Singh, and Swati Maliwal—announced their merger with the BJP, taking the ruling party’s strength in the Rajya Sabha to 113. The AAP is now left with just three members in the Upper House, marking a significant setback ahead of key elections.
Maken alleged that Rajya Sabha seats in AAP were distributed based on wealth rather than merit, claiming the average net worth of the defecting MPs exceeded ₹818 crore. He also questioned both AAP and BJP, linking the political developments to broader concerns in Punjab, especially with elections approaching. The developments have intensified political tensions, with Congress sharpening its criticism of both parties.