Senior leaders within the Bharatiya Janata Party have described the development as a strategic breakthrough, claiming it achieves multiple political objectives simultaneously. The immediate concern among political observers is whether this split within the Rajya Sabha contingent will trigger a wider exodus involving Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and legislators in Punjab and Delhi.
This possibility has long troubled the Aam Aadmi Party leadership, which has repeatedly accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of attempting to dismantle it through what it terms “Operation Lotus.” The implications of the latest development are considered far-reaching, especially as the Bharatiya Janata Party sharpens its focus on upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat and Goa, alongside its ambitions in Punjab.
While national attention remained focused on electoral developments in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party reportedly executed its strategy in a calculated and discreet manner. At a time when Home Minister Amit Shah was actively overseeing election preparations in Kolkata, a new generation of party leaders, operating under his guidance, is said to have orchestrated the political shift in the national capital.
Sources indicate that groundwork for this move had been laid well in advance. Swati Maliwal had reportedly maintained prolonged contact with Bharatiya Janata Party leadership and had openly supported the party during the Delhi assembly elections. Simultaneously, the party had been closely monitoring Raghav Chadha, whose public conduct suggested dissatisfaction with the Aam Aadmi Party leadership. However, internal rivalries emerged, as Maliwal reportedly feared that Chadha’s rising proximity to the Bharatiya Janata Party could overshadow her own political standing.
To secure the required number of seven Members of Parliament needed to formalize a split within the Rajya Sabha group, coordinated efforts were undertaken. Among the defectors, Sandeep Pathak is viewed as the most significant figure due to his role as general secretary responsible for organizational affairs within the Aam Aadmi Party. He had played a decisive role in ticket distribution during the Punjab assembly elections and maintained direct communication with legislators in the state. His reported dissatisfaction stemmed from a perceived reduction in his influence, particularly after authority in Punjab was consolidated under former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Other Members of Parliament who shifted allegiance include Ashok Mittal, who was reportedly under pressure following enforcement agency actions, Vikramjit Sahney, who had publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Harbhajan Singh, who had expressed his intention to attend the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya while maintaining a focus on sports-related issues over political engagement. Businessman Rajinder Gupta, another defector, had largely remained detached from active politics but had supported the India-United States trade agreement despite his party’s opposition.
According to Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, the broader strategy involves leveraging the influence of Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak to weaken the Aam Aadmi Party’s base in Punjab. Chadha, once described as the “super chief minister” of Punjab, is expected to play a central role in urban outreach, while Ravneet Bittu is projected as a key figure in rural regions. With assembly elections in Punjab and Goa scheduled for February 2027, party strategists believe that a large-scale shift of legislators could occur closer to the elections, although a formal split within the legislative assembly would require substantial numerical support, including 61 legislators in Punjab and 15 in Delhi.
In Punjab, the Bharatiya Janata Party aims to expand its limited footprint, having secured only two assembly seats and a 6.5 percent vote share in the previous elections. Although its vote share rose to 18.5 percent in the 2024 parliamentary elections, it failed to win any seats. The party has ruled out any alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal and intends to contest independently.
The political impact is also being felt in Gujarat, where local body elections are underway across 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, and 34 district councils. These elections are witnessing a three-way contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party. The Aam Aadmi Party has termed these elections a “semifinal” ahead of the 2027 assembly polls, with both Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann actively campaigning. The party is attempting to replicate its 2021 performance in Surat, where it won 27 seats, and continues to expand its presence in South Gujarat and the Saurashtra region.
In Goa, the Aam Aadmi Party had secured two assembly seats and a 6.77 percent vote share in the previous elections, establishing a foothold in coastal and Christian-majority regions of South Goa. During the last parliamentary elections, it supported the Congress, contributing to the opposition alliance’s victory in the South Goa constituency.
With the addition of the seven defecting Members of Parliament, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strength in the Rajya Sabha is set to rise to 113, bringing the National Democratic Alliance closer to the 150 mark. This increased strength is expected to ease the passage of key legislation in the upper house, reinforcing the perception within the party that the development represents a significant strategic victory with long-term political consequences.
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