Swati Maliwal, a Rajya Sabha MP who recently left AAP, said on Saturday that the party had moved away from its founding ideals and that Arvind Kejriwal is no longer the same leader. Her remarks came a day after AAP faced a major setback when seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, resigned from the party. Other MPs who quit included Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahney.

Maliwal, who later joined the BJP, also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, calling it strong and decisive. She alleged that she had devoted years to public service and social causes but faced mistreatment after attempting to file a complaint following an alleged assault at Kejriwal’s residence. She claimed she was pressured and threatened to withdraw her complaint and was later sidelined within the party, including being denied opportunities to speak in Parliament.

According to her, AAP has changed significantly and is now associated with corruption, false claims, and misconduct. She said people are leaving the party because of dissatisfaction with Kejriwal’s leadership rather than fear. Maliwal also accused Kejriwal of changing from his earlier image of simplicity, alleging that his lifestyle has become more luxurious over time. She further claimed that the Punjab government is being indirectly controlled from Delhi and raised allegations of corruption and illegal activities in the state.

She said her decision to join the BJP was made willingly and not under pressure, adding that she could have joined earlier if she had wanted to. AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the party would approach the Rajya Sabha Chairman seeking disqualification of the seven MPs under the anti-defection law. He also alleged that the resignations were influenced by the BJP. Maliwal had been elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2024 and earlier served as chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women.