Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has finally ended her two-year standoff with the Aam Aadmi Party by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after a coordinated breakaway led by Raghav Chadha. The group has now merged with the BJP, crossing the two-thirds mark required under the anti-defection law.
Maliwal's departure from the AAP comes after months of escalating tensions with the party leadership. She had turned into one of AAP's sharpest internal critics, accusing the leadership of abandoning its founding principles.
Her decision to join the BJP was announced on Friday, citing her disappointment with the AAP's shift from its founding principles. Maliwal had previously accused Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP leadership of corruption, harassment, and assault against women.
The coordinated exit of seven MPs has altered the equation, allowing the group to legally merge with another party without triggering disqualification. Maliwal's current term in the Rajya Sabha runs until 2030.
