When the party first announced its Punjab nominees in 2022, few expected a split of this scale. The group of seven defectors includes famous names like cricketer Harbhajan Singh and LPU founder Ashok Mittal. However, internal sources admit that they largely anticipated the moves of Raghav Chadha and Swati Maliwal. Both leaders had reportedly grown distant from the core leadership over the past few months.
The Unexpected Exit of the “Core Strategist”
While the party expected Raghav Chadha to move, Sandeep Pathak’s decision came as a genuine shock. Pathak was not just another Member of Parliament; he served as the National General Secretary and managed the party’s most successful election campaigns. Furthermore, he was one of the few individuals permitted to meet Arvind Kejriwal during his time in jail.
“The departure of Raghav Chadha was something we saw coming,” a party functionary stated. “But Pathak has been part of the highest decision-making body since 2018.” Sources suggest that Pathak’s family roots in Chhattisgarh, where his father is a BJP functionary, may have influenced his pivot toward the saffron party.
Business Vulnerabilities and Political Pressure
Many believe that legal and financial pressures played a role in this mass exodus. For example, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently raided the business establishments of Ashok Mittal. Consequently, other businessmen within the party, including Vikram Sahney and Rajinder Gupta, may have followed suit as a preemptive measure to protect their interests.
- Impact on Punjab: This move strips AAP of its parliamentary strength in a state where it holds absolute power.
- Credibility Hit: The exit of Raghav Chadha, a face of the party’s “new politics,” damages the AAP brand nationally.
- Internal Vacuum: Losing a strategist like Pathak right before major election cycles creates a massive organizational gap.
A Busy News Day in India
As the political fallout from the Raghav Chadha defection continues, the country is buzzing with other major headlines today. Students in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are currently celebrating or analyzing their futures as the UK Board Result 2026 and UP Board results went live this morning.