Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Ashok Mittal, a prominent educationist and founder of Lovely Professional University (LPU), has formally resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This significant political shift occurred on Friday, just hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal vacated Mittal's official Delhi bungalow, where he had resided for over a year.
Kejriwal's Year-Long Stay at Mittal's Residence
Arvind Kejriwal had moved into Mittal's residence at 5 Ferozeshah Road in September 2024. This arrangement began after Kejriwal stepped down from his position as Chief Minister following his release on bail in connection with the excise policy case. Prior to this, Kejriwal had lived at 6 Flag Staff Road during his tenure as Chief Minister.
Kejriwal recently relocated from Mittal's bungalow on April 24, 2026, shifting to a Type-VII government residence in Lodhi Estate. This new accommodation was allotted to him by the Centre in his capacity as the head of a national political party.
Immediate Defection and Broader Implications
Mittal's decision to leave the AAP and align with the BJP followed swiftly after Kejriwal's departure from his residence. His defection is part of a series of exits from the Aam Aadmi Party. Other notable leaders who have also reportedly quit the party and joined the BJP include Raghav Chadha, Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahney.
Just weeks before his defection, on April 2, 2026, Mittal had been appointed as the AAP's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha. The anti-defection law stipulates that a Rajya Sabha member can avoid disqualification only if at least two-thirds of their party's legislators agree to a merger with another party.
These developments mark a challenging period for the AAP leadership, as several senior figures depart the party ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, raising questions about internal stability and future political strategy.