India
-Oneindia Staff
Former Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday at a function in New Delhi, attended by Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva. The move signals a fresh shift in Delhi politics, as Maliwal pledged to work within the BJP framework for governance and development in the national capital.
Maliwal’s switch to the BJP comes soon after a similar move by several other former AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, adding to realignment in Delhi politics. The leaders who recently associated with the BJP include Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Harbhajan Singh, and Rajinder Gupta, suggesting broader churn within AAP’s former parliamentary ranks.
Former AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi on Tuesday, citing ideological alignment and criticizing the AAP’s governance record and its perceived administrative failures in the capital.
Swati Maliwal BJP Delhi politics: Realignment of former AAP MPs
| Former AAP Rajya Sabha MP | Current alignment |
|---|---|
| Swati Maliwal | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Raghav Chadha | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Sandeep Pathak | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Ashok Mittal | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Vikramjeet Singh Sahney | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Harbhajan Singh | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Rajinder Gupta | Bharatiya Janata Party |
Speaking to reporters after joining the BJP, Maliwal stressed that the shift was a personal choice based on ideology rather than coercion. Maliwal said the decision followed years of watching the BJP’s governance style and policy priorities. Maliwal described the induction as an important step in a political career focused on Delhi’s administration.
Swati Maliwal BJP Delhi politics criticism of AAP rule
Maliwal sharply criticised Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and AAP’s record in office, alleging that ten years of rule in Delhi led to serious gaps in administration. Maliwal claimed residents continued to face weak infrastructure, unreliable water supply, and poor civic services, arguing these concerns pointed to structural failures during the previous government.
While attacking AAP’s earlier tenure, Maliwal also referred to work carried out since 2025 under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the BJP-led Delhi government. Maliwal said that development efforts had begun to address long-pending issues but accepted that large gaps remain. Maliwal called for joint efforts across institutions to strengthen public services and city infrastructure.
Swati Maliwal BJP Delhi politics and governance background
Maliwal earlier headed the Delhi Commission for Women and served as a Rajya Sabha MP, holding prominent responsibilities in the city’s governance network. Maliwal stated that, during the commission role, work was kept neutral and independent, even while BJP leaders extended cooperation at different stages. That experience, Maliwal suggested, helped shape a favourable view of the party’s approach.
Maliwal repeated that joining the BJP was voluntary and rooted in ideological alignment, not pressure. By entering a party already drawing former AAP parliamentarians, Maliwal has added another layer to reshaping Delhi politics. The development is expected to influence future electoral strategies and governance debates in the national capital’s shifting political space.
