Sanjay Singh slams rebel MPs, asserts AAP will ensure their disqualification from Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh has sent a clear message to the seven Rajya Sabha MPs who have rebelled against the party to join the BJP. Sanjay Singh - who is himself a member of the Upper House of Parliament - has opined that the rebel MPs should resign from the Rajya Sabha. He also informed that the AAP attempting to ensure that that all seven rebel MPs are disqualified from the Rajya Sabha.

: "If you have differences with the party on whose ticket you were elected, you should resign and go wherever you wish," Sanjay Singh said while talking to the media.

What did Sanjay Singh say?

Sanjay Singh stated that several constitutional experts have made it clear that the membership of all seven AAP MPs who announced their intention to join the BJP will be terminated. "After consulting with Kapil Sibal and other experts, we have submitted a petition to the Vice President of India. We have requested the Chairman to terminate the membership of all these individuals and to take a decision on this matter as soon as possible."

Sanjay Singh further added that these individuals have not only betrayed the party but have also betrayed the people of Punjab. He reiterated, "If you have differences with the party on whose ticket you were elected, you should resign and go wherever you wish."

Sanjay Singh has made a major assertion regarding the two-thirds of the Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MPs who have joined the BJP. He contends that all these rebel MPs will lose their Rajya Sabha membership. Sanjay Singh also outlined the specific grounds upon which the rebels' membership would be forfeited. This statement by Sanjay Singh comes at a time when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made it clear that it will seek to have the rebel MPs disqualified from their Rajya Sabha seats.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh asserted that the disqualification of these seven rebel Rajya Sabha members is inevitable. The step taken by them amounts to an act of defection. The members' actions are in violation of the relevant legal provisions.

Sanjay Singh revealed that he has sought counsel from several constitutional experts, including Kapil Sibal and a former Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha. The consensus among them is that, under the law, all the rebel MPs are liable to be disqualified.

The petition submitted to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha cites the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (the Anti-Defection Law). Furthermore, it demands the immediate cancellation of the membership of the seven rebel MPs.

Sanjay Singh further stated that the move by these seven MPs to join the BJP is entirely "unconstitutional" and "illegal." He affirmed, "We will vigorously fight this legal battle, relying on past verdicts delivered by the Supreme Court."

What Did Raghav Chadha Announce?

In fact, on Friday, AAP Rajya Sabha members Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak held a press conference to announce that they—along with five other Rajya Sabha members from the party—were joining the BJP. Chadha stated that seven out of the ten AAP Rajya Sabha members are set to merge with the BJP.

Chadha remarked, "According to the Constitution, two-thirds of a party's total MPs can merge with another party. We have submitted a letter in this regard today to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, C.P. Radhakrishnan. We are currently submitting all the necessary documents."

Chadha identified the other AAP Rajya Sabha members joining the BJP as Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Ashok Mittal. AAP Rajya Sabha members Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal were also present alongside Chadha at the press conference.