Was approached by Raghav Chadha camp but...: AAP MP on why he didn't leave party
Balbir Singh Seechewal said he refused Vikramjit Singh Sahney's offer to join an Azaad Group before the AAP split. The claim surfaced as seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs joined the BJP last week.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal on Sunday claimed that he had turned down a proposal from fellow lawmaker, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, to join a newly proposed "Azaad Group", just hours before a major split hit the party.
Recounting the sequence, Seechewal said Sahney called him on Friday morning, informing him that 6 to 7 Rajya Sabha MPs were coming together to form a separate bloc to raise Punjab's issues. He said he declined the offer, making it clear he did not wish to be part of any such group.
"Sahney told me that an 'Azaad group' is being formed for raising Punjab's issues. But I told him clearly that I do not have any intention to join the group," Seechewal told news agency PTI.
The development came the same day the AAP suffered another major setback, with seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs -- Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Sahney and Swati Maliwal -- resigning and merging with the BJP.
The disgruntled MPs cited a departure from the party's founding principles, values and core ideals. Six of those who quit are from Punjab.
Seechewal said he learnt about the resignations and subsequent switch to the BJP through media reports later that day.
Expressing disappointment, he said the MPs had been sent to the Upper House to represent Punjab's concerns and were expected to fulfil that responsibility. Instead, he suggested, they committed 'bewafai' (being unfaithful) with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
Seechewal also flagged internal functioning, claiming he was rarely given an opportunity to speak on legislative matters in the Rajya Sabha. According to him, most debates were led by Chadha and Pathak, while he was restricted to raising issues during Zero Hour or through Special Mentions.
Seechewal further said he was particularly surprised by the decision of Chadha and Pathak, pointing out that both had held considerable influence in Punjab and had access to positions of authority.
An environmentalist, Seechewal was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2022 under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan officially accepted the seven rebel MPs joining the BJP, increasing the saffron party's tally to 113 in the 245-member Upper House. The strength of Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the Rajya Sabha is now reduced to three from 10.
"Hon'ble Chairman Rajya Sabha Shri CP Radhakrishnan Ji has accepted the merger of 7 AAP MPs with the BJP," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on X, adding they are now members of the BJP Parliamentary Party.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the party expects the Chairman to act in line with constitutional provisions and democratic principles once its complaint is reviewed, expressing confidence that the seven MPs will be disqualified.
"If that does not happen, we will approach the court. It is wrong to break a party in this manner," he said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal on Sunday claimed that he had turned down a proposal from fellow lawmaker, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, to join a newly proposed "Azaad Group", just hours before a major split hit the party.
Recounting the sequence, Seechewal said Sahney called him on Friday morning, informing him that 6 to 7 Rajya Sabha MPs were coming together to form a separate bloc to raise Punjab's issues. He said he declined the offer, making it clear he did not wish to be part of any such group.
"Sahney told me that an 'Azaad group' is being formed for raising Punjab's issues. But I told him clearly that I do not have any intention to join the group," Seechewal told news agency PTI.
The development came the same day the AAP suffered another major setback, with seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs -- Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Sahney and Swati Maliwal -- resigning and merging with the BJP.
The disgruntled MPs cited a departure from the party's founding principles, values and core ideals. Six of those who quit are from Punjab.
Seechewal said he learnt about the resignations and subsequent switch to the BJP through media reports later that day.
Expressing disappointment, he said the MPs had been sent to the Upper House to represent Punjab's concerns and were expected to fulfil that responsibility. Instead, he suggested, they committed 'bewafai' (being unfaithful) with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
Seechewal also flagged internal functioning, claiming he was rarely given an opportunity to speak on legislative matters in the Rajya Sabha. According to him, most debates were led by Chadha and Pathak, while he was restricted to raising issues during Zero Hour or through Special Mentions.
Seechewal further said he was particularly surprised by the decision of Chadha and Pathak, pointing out that both had held considerable influence in Punjab and had access to positions of authority.
An environmentalist, Seechewal was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2022 under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan officially accepted the seven rebel MPs joining the BJP, increasing the saffron party's tally to 113 in the 245-member Upper House. The strength of Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the Rajya Sabha is now reduced to three from 10.
"Hon'ble Chairman Rajya Sabha Shri CP Radhakrishnan Ji has accepted the merger of 7 AAP MPs with the BJP," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on X, adding they are now members of the BJP Parliamentary Party.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the party expects the Chairman to act in line with constitutional provisions and democratic principles once its complaint is reviewed, expressing confidence that the seven MPs will be disqualified.
"If that does not happen, we will approach the court. It is wrong to break a party in this manner," he said.
