Former Indian Cricketer Harbhajan Singh Quits AAP to Join BJP During IPL 2026

April 24, 2026: Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has officially resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a major political development on Friday. The former off-spinner, who was part of two ICC World Cup-winning Indian teams, had entered politics after retiring from cricket and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the AAP in 2022 as one of its five representatives from Punjab.

Harbhajan Singh is now among several AAP leaders who have reportedly switched allegiance to the BJP, marking a significant political shift within the party’s parliamentary strength. His move comes amid reports that a large section of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to leave the party and merge with the BJP, creating a major realignment in national politics.

Harbhajan Singh’s Political Career

Harbhajan Singh transitioned into public life after his cricketing career and joined the Aam Aadmi Party, marking his formal entry into politics. In 2022, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party nominated him to the Rajya Sabha, where he represented Punjab in the Upper House of Parliament. His entry into politics was seen as a significant move, given his national popularity and status as a World Cup-winning cricketer.

During his time in politics, Harbhajan Singh maintained a relatively low-profile presence in parliamentary proceedings. While he was not very active in day-to-day political debates, he remained an important public figure due to his cricketing legacy and strong fan following across the country.

Harbhajan Singh joins BJP as well.

But will continue to remain MP from the seat given to him by Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. pic.twitter.com/YV0bnS5oKd

— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) April 24, 2026

AAP Rajya Sabha Leadership and Mass Resignations

During a press conference, Raghav Chadha stated that the Aam Aadmi Party has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, and seven of them have decided to leave the party and join the Bharatiya Janata Party. He also confirmed that formal documents and signed letters were submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman. According to the statement, leaders including Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal are part of this group.

Alongside Harbhajan Singh, several other prominent figures have been associated with AAP’s Rajya Sabha and organisational structure. These include Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal, each contributing in fields such as education, industry, social work, and governance.

Harbhajan Singh’s decision to move to the BJP is being seen as part of a wider political shift involving several former AAP members. His transition marks a new phase in his public life, where he is expected to take on a more active political role, leveraging his national stature and widespread popularity beyond the world of cricket.