BackPOLITICS
Swati Maliwal Quits AAP, Recalls Assault at Arvind Kejriwal's Home
Swati Maliwal confirmed she is quitting the Aam Aadmi Party, citing corruption, harassment, assault on women, and promotion of goons. She also recalled a 2024 allegation of assault by Kejriwal's aide at the chief minister's residence. On the same day, Raghav Chadha announced a Rajya Sabha MPs’ merger with the BJP, prompting AAP to call the seven lawmakers traitors and BJP to condemn AAP as a den of corruption.
Why It Matters
The exits and mergers signal major realignment in Indian opposition politics and raise questions about internal governance and accountability within AAP, alongside long-standing misconduct allegations.
Timeline
3 Events
April 24, 2026: Chadha merger with BJP; Maliwal quits AAP amid upheaval
April 24, 2026
Hours after Raghav Chadha announced that he and six other AAP Rajya Sabha lawmakers were joining the BJP, Swati Maliwal confirmed she was quitting the party, citing corruption, harassment, assault on women, and promotion of goons. Chadha, Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal were among those merging with the BJP, alongside Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak. The AAP labeled the seven MPs as traitors to Punjabis, while the BJP called the AAP a den of corruption and Kejriwal accused the BJP of betraying Punjabis.
April 2026: Chadha removed from AAP deputy leader post in Rajya Sabha
April 2026
Earlier in April 2026, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha was removed from the post of AAP's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.
May 2024: Maliwal alleges assault by Kejriwal aide at his residence
May 2024
In May 2024, Swati Maliwal alleged that Arvind Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar, slapped her several times and kicked her chest, stomach and pelvis at Kejriwal's house. Kumar was arrested and spent about 100 days in jail before being released on bail.