‘It’s their fault...’ Anna Hazare blames AAP leadership as Raghav Chadha quits

Mumbai: Social activist Anna Hazare has remarked that Raghav Chadha and six other Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha members might not have resigned if the party had adhered to what he described as the “right” course.

Speaking to reporters on Friday in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra, Hazare said that in a democracy, people are entitled to their own views and choices. He suggested that Chadha and the others must have encountered certain difficulties within the party, which ultimately led to their decision to quit.

“They must have faced some trouble, which is why they left,” he said, adding that such developments indicate underlying issues within the party.

Chadha and others announce exit from AAP

Chadha and Sandeep Pathak on Friday, addressed a joint press conference in Delhi, confirming their departure from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and their decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Chadha stated that nearly two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha members had resigned and would now operate as a separate faction.

“It is the party’s fault,” says Hazare

Hazare reiterated his view that the responsibility lies with the party leadership. According to him, had the organisation followed a more appropriate path, such exits could have been avoided.

“It is their fault. Had that party followed the right way, they would not have left,” he said.

He further stressed that there must be some reason behind the resignations, noting that in a democratic system, individuals are free to decide where they wish to remain or withdraw.

“There must be some or the other reason. In a democracy, every person has a view about where to stay and leave,” Hazare added.

Chadha’s resignation and shift to BJP

Chadha’s exit, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, marks a major political development for AAP. The group announced that they were leaving the party and aligning with the BJP, citing internal disagreements and a perceived departure from the party’s original principles.

The MPs claimed that their move represented nearly two-thirds of AAP’s strength in the Upper House, allowing them to function collectively after the split.

Chadha also indicated that tensions with the party leadership had been building for some time, with differences becoming increasingly visible in recent weeks.

A major setback for AAP

The developments are being viewed as a significant blow to the Kejriwal-led party, which was established in 2012 following the anti-corruption movement led by Hazare. The Chadha-led departures represent one of the most serious internal ruptures faced by the party since its formation.

Agency inputs