Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal took aim at former party lawmakers, including Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, who defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking at a press conference in Panaji following the announcement of an alliance with the Goa Forward Party, Kejriwal emphasized that the party will thoroughly vet candidates’ loyalty and background before ever considering them for the Upper House again. Kejriwal drew a sharp contrast between grassroots elected representatives and nominated lawmakers, asserting that AAP’s grassroots leaders have remained faithful to voters despite external pressure: Party Betrayal vs. Public Trust: Kejriwal pointed out that the Rajya Sabha MPs who crossed over to the BJP betrayed the political party that sponsored their seats rather than an electorate. Moving forward, he stated, AAP will evaluate potential candidates rigorously—verifying their credibility multiple times before extending an Upper House nomination. Resilience Across States: Pointing to AAP’s presence in Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir (one MLA), and Gujarat (five MLAs), Kejriwal claimed that despite targeted poaching attempts, elected grassroots legislators have stood by the party. The Goa and Gujarat Precedents: Kejriwal highlighted that both AAP legislators elected during the 2022 Goa assembly elections resisted defection efforts. He also cited Gujarat, where a defection triggered a subsequent assembly bypoll in which AAP defeated the BJP. Throughout the address, Kejriwal reiterated that AAP’s directly elected officials have remained loyal to their constituencies and the public, framing the defection of Rajya Sabha members as a hard lesson in the vetting process for nominated roles. Post navigation PM Modi and Xi Jinping Hold High-Stakes Border and Trade Talks at New Delhi BRICS Summit
