Overview
- Maliwal, who joined the BJP on Saturday, said her decision was voluntary and based on confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- She again alleged a May 2024 assault at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence by aide Bibhav Kumar, a case that led to a Delhi Police FIR, Kumar’s arrest and bail, and a counter-complaint from him.
- Maliwal said she was threatened to withdraw the FIR and claimed AAP blocked her from speaking in Parliament for two years.
- She accused AAP’s Punjab leadership of corruption, alleging illegal sand mining and drug abuse have grown and saying her alleged assailant received Z+ security and an advisory role.
- Her switch follows a wider wave of AAP Rajya Sabha defections led by Raghav Chadha, which news outlets describe as a setback for the party’s standing in the upper house.