New Delhi: In a significant revelation ahead of the political earthquake that hit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), one of the key rebel Rajya Sabha MPs, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, held a private meeting with AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal just days before announcing his decision to quit the party and merge with the BJP along with six other colleagues.
Sahney, who was among the seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs who formally announced their exit and merger with the BJP on Friday, met Kejriwal on Wednesday. During the meeting, he candidly informed the Delhi Chief Minister about the brewing discontent and the group’s plan to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to Sahney, he specifically warned Kejriwal that the resignation of even “one or two MPs” would lower the two-thirds threshold required for a formal merger under anti-defection laws, potentially encouraging more lawmakers to follow suit without facing disqualification. He also noted that Kejriwal appeared skeptical about the scale of the rebellion, particularly doubting that influential figures like Sandeep Pathak would eventually leave the party.
Deep-Rooted Discontent
The meeting highlights the internal rifts that had been simmering within AAP for months, if not over a year. Sahney pointed to the sidelining of key leaders after AAP’s performance in the Delhi elections. He described both Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak — instrumental in building AAP’s base in Punjab — as “pillars” of the party who were gradually reduced to “zero” influence.
The removal of Raghav Chadha as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha was cited as another flashpoint that deepened the sense of alienation among senior leaders.
Sahney later explained that the decision to join the BJP was driven by a desire to work for Punjab’s development through better coordination between the state and central governments. He rejected accusations of betrayal, stating that the move was not against Punjab but aimed at fostering collaboration for the state’s progress.
Kejriwal’s Last-Ditch Effort
Kejriwal had called a meeting of disgruntled MPs at his residence on Friday evening, promising to address their grievances and even offering future electoral tickets to those who chose to stay. However, the rebel group finalised their move and made the announcement hours before the scheduled meeting, catching the AAP leadership off guard.
Sources indicate that while the MPs had been deliberating individually for some time, the coordination intensified in the final days, leading to a mass exit that has severely weakened AAP in the Rajya Sabha. The party lost seven out of its ten seats in the Upper House in one stroke.
This development marks one of the biggest setbacks for AAP since its rise as a national player. While Kejriwal has blamed the BJP for engineering the “betrayal” of Punjab’s interests, the rebels have countered by accusing the party of deviating from its original principles of transparency and effective governance.
The episode underscores the growing challenges for AAP as it navigates internal power struggles and external political pressures ahead of key electoral battles.
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