Mumbai: Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has weighed in on the turmoil within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying Raghav Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha members would not have quit had the party stayed on the "right path."
Hazare, whose anti-corruption movement in 2012 laid the foundation for AAP's birth, said the leaders must have faced difficulties within the party. "Had the party gone in the right direction, they would not have quit," he remarked, adding that in a democracy, individuals have the freedom to choose where they belong.
Speaking on the development, Hazare said shifting political allegiance for personal interests is "not right" and goes against the spirit of public service. "Leaving one party and joining another is not right. Changing political parties for selfish needs is not the right thing. This is not mentioned in our Constitution. Our Constitution is supreme, and the country runs according to it," he said.
He stressed that elected representatives must act in line with constitutional principles and avoid decisions driven by individual gain.
On Friday, Chadha and fellow MP Sandeep Pathak announced their resignation from AAP to join the BJP, claiming nearly two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha members had broken away to form a separate faction.
Hazare squarely blamed the party's leadership for the crisis. "It is their fault. Had that party followed the right way, they would not have left," he said.
The Chadha-led exodus marks one of the biggest setbacks for Arvind Kejriwal's party since its inception, raising questions about its future direction and internal cohesion.