How Amit Shah’s Punjab rally set the stage for Raghav Chadha’s BJP move

The dramatic exit of seven MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party may have appeared sudden, but the groundwork was laid weeks in advance, with political signals emerging from Punjab.

What unfolded on Friday is now being seen, according to sources, as part of a longer political build-up that traces back to a visit by Union home minister Amit Shah. The Bharatiya Janata Party is believed to have decided to accommodate disgruntled AAP MPs around the time Shah addressed a rally in Moga on March 14 — an event now viewed as a key trigger in the chain of defections.

Internal churn before the split

People familiar with developments say the roots of the crisis go back to 2024, when preparations for Delhi elections intensified alongside growing dissatisfaction among some leaders over the functioning of AAP’s Punjab government.

Tensions became visible earlier this month when Raghav Chadha was removed as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha on April 2. The party cited his inability to raise key issues, accusing him of focusing on “soft issues.” Although Ashok Mittal was brought in as a replacement, the move failed to stabilise the situation — with Mittal himself among those who later switched sides.

The BJP formally inducted Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Mittal in the presence of party chief Nitin Nabin. However, questions remain over whether the move will translate into electoral gains in Punjab.

Mixed political reactions

Reactions from political leaders in the state suggest the BJP’s strategy may not yield immediate dividends. A Congress MP from Punjab said voters in the state are unlikely to support defectors and noted that none of the seven MPs had a strong grassroots base.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann also dismissed the defectors’ influence, using a culinary analogy to underline their limited political weight. He asserted that none of them could independently win even a village-level election and emphasised that the party remains bigger than individuals.

AAP vs BJP war of words

Mann accused the BJP of attempting to weaken AAP through inducements and pressure tactics, claiming the party lacks a strong base in Punjab. He argued that governance improvements in sectors like education, healthcare and infrastructure had unsettled the BJP.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring described the split as “natural,” alleging that AAP lacks ideological grounding and that the exit of a prominent leader like Chadha reflects internal disillusionment.

Meanwhile, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said he would seek disqualification of some MPs, maintaining that they had voluntarily left the party and accusing the BJP of orchestrating the defections.