Swati Maliwal Quits AAP Amid Mass Defection to BJP, Levels Serious Allegations

VoM News Desk | April 25, 2026 | 07:44 AM IST | Breaking News, India, Politics | Follow on Google News

Swati Maliwal Quits AAP Amid Mass Defection to BJP, Levels Serious Allegations

NEW DELHI, Apr 25 (VoM News) — Swati Maliwal on Friday confirmed her exit from the Aam Aadmi Party, hours after Raghav Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs announced their decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a post on X, Maliwal cited “corruption, harassment, assault on women and promotion of goons” within the party as reasons for her resignation. She alleged that the AAP had strayed from its founding principles under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.

Referring to her 2024 complaint, Maliwal reiterated allegations that Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, had assaulted her at the chief minister’s residence. “To protect his aide, he went to extreme lengths and even rewarded him,” she claimed, adding that she faced threats and sustained pressure after the incident.

Maliwal said she had dedicated years to public service, including her work with the Delhi Commission for Women, but could no longer continue amid what she described as “unaccountable corruption” and misconduct within the party.

Earlier in the day, Chadha announced that more than two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs had decided to merge with the BJP. He said he felt like “the right man in the wrong party” and distanced himself from what he termed the party’s “wrongdoings.”

The defecting MPs include Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney, Ashok Kumar Mittal and Sandeep Pathak.

Reacting sharply, the AAP termed the MPs “traitors” and accused the BJP of orchestrating the defections. The BJP, in turn, said the developments reflected growing disillusionment within AAP, calling it a party mired in corruption.

The political shift marks a major setback for AAP in the Upper House and signals a broader realignment ahead of upcoming electoral contests.

VoM News Desk

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