The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a major setback in Chhattisgarh as 500 of its workers resigned in a group and joined the BJP. Earlier this month, AAP’s Chhattisgarh unit chief Komal Hupendi and six other key members resigned from the party, leading to the mass exodus of the 500 workers. These workers made the switch to the BJP due to their admiration for PM Modi's development and nationalist agenda, as well as disillusionment with AAP's leadership. The workers praised the establishment of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and applauded the BJP’s government record.

Among those who resigned from the party include AAP state Vice President Prakash Thakur, Chairman of Manifesto Committee Anand Prakash Miri, AAP's State Secretary Vikas Kelkar, State President Youth Wing Ravindra Thakur, State President SC Wing Dharam Bhargava, State President OBC Wing Kamal Kant Sahu, State Joint Secretary and State Executive.

Not just the AAP but leaders from other smaller outfits such as the Shiv Sena, Sainik Party and Akhand Loktantrik Party too either merged their organisations with the BJP or joined them.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, termed this day as "Historic" and said that the entry of all of them will strengthen the ruling party. "The BJP will become stronger with induction of these people as they all will contribute in ensuring victory of the Narendra Modi government again by winning more than 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," he said.

"The BJP is a party that believes in the ideology of Antodaya (upliftment of the last person in the line).
As per the vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas' (together with all, development for all, trust of all), work is being done in the country under the leadership of PM Modi. The BJP is the biggest political party not only in the country, but also in the world," Sai said.

This move is perceived as a reaction to what is seen as a lack of attention from the AAP's top leadership to the concerns and electoral strategy of the state unit. Hupendi, a member since 2016, expressed disappointment, highlighting the lack of support from the central leadership during the 2023 assembly elections. Despite initial plans to contest all 90 seats, the AAP ended up fielding candidates in only 54 constituencies. The outcome was disappointing, as they failed to secure a single seat, managing just under 1 per cent of the vote share.

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