AAP seeks ouster of seven Rajya Sabha MPs who joined BJP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said it will seek the disqualification of its seven Rajya Sabha MPs who joined the BJP, calling the move unconstitutional and illegal.
Senior AAP leader and MP Sanjay Singh said he will write to the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Vice President, citing the Tenth Schedule and demanding termination of their membership, arguing that even a two-thirds split holds no legal validity under the anti-defection law.
Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters on Saturday, Singh said, “On Friday, seven individuals announced their decision to join the BJP in a manner that was unconstitutional, illegal, and against the rules.”
He asserted that this is completely wrong in legal terms.
The AAP leader highlighted that the anti-defection law clearly States that no form of split is permissible in the Assembly, Rajya Sabha, or Lok Sabha, and said, “It has no legal recognition, and this has also been clearly established in the Shiv Sena case.”
Sanjay Singh explained that the Tenth Schedule clearly provides that any kind of split, even if it involves a two-thirds majority or increases from seven to eight members, has no legal validity.
“Therefore, the defection of these seven Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party is entirely illegal, incorrect, unconstitutional, and against parliamentary rules,” he said, and added that he would submit a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Vice President, citing all these rules and demanding the complete termination of the membership of all seven MPs.
He further said that three of these individuals, Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, and Ashok Mittal, had clearly gone to the BJP office on Friday.
Regarding the remaining four individuals being claimed, he said that he would also write to the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Vice President seeking termination of their membership as well.
Taking a dig at PM Narendra Modi, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said people are asking Prime Minister Modi why, despite claims over 11 years that India’s stature has risen globally, leaders like Donald Trump make derogatory remarks about India and Indians when given the chance.
“Donald Trump imposes tariffs on India at will, yet the Prime Minister remains silent. Indians are sent back to India in chains, and there is no response.
Trump suggests a ceasefire with Pakistan and the Prime Minister accepts it without question,” he said.
