AAP will vet Rajya Sabha candidates more carefully, says Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor and former Delhi chief minister, has broken his silence on the recent defections from the party's Rajya Sabha contingent, nearly five months after the departures occurred. The remarks come in response to the exit of Raghav Chadha alongside six other AAP members from the upper house.

Kejriwal indicated that the party would adopt a more rigorous selection process for future Rajya Sabha nominations. "We will now scrutinise candidates 100 times over before sending them to the Rajya Sabha," Kejriwal said, signalling institutional changes within the party following the high-profile exits.

The departures had raised questions about party discipline and candidate selection criteria within the AAP, which has positioned itself as an anti-corruption alternative to India's major national parties. The defections marked a significant setback for the relatively young political party, which has faced occasional internal challenges despite its strong electoral performance in Delhi and Punjab.

Kejriwal's statement reflects efforts to tighten internal governance mechanisms and prevent future losses of parliamentary representation. The AAP has been focusing on expanding its presence across India, with particular emphasis on several state assemblies ahead of upcoming electoral contests.