Major Blow to AAP in Punjab as Three Suspended MLAs Join BJP Ahead of 2027 Assembly Polls
Three suspended AAP legislators, including former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, have officially joined the BJP, dealing a severe political blow to the ruling party in Punjab.
Political Shake-Up in Punjab
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a major political setback in Punjab as three suspended legislators officially crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters in New Delhi. The high-profile defection comes at a critical juncture for the ruling party, which is gearing up for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The leaders who made the switch include former IPS officer and Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Samana MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra, and Sanour MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra. All three leaders had previously been suspended from the AAP for alleged anti-party activities.
Leaders Cite Governance Failures
During the formal joining ceremony, the newly inducted leaders launched scathing attacks on the AAP leadership, citing systemic failures, administrative stagnation, and a rise in crime and drug trafficking under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's administration.
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh declared that the AAP has effectively ceased to exist in the state, holding top leadership accountable for the political fallout. "In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party is finished; Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann themselves have brought about its end," Singh stated, advocating for a 'double-engine' governance model in the state.
Echoing similar concerns, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra criticized the current administration's handling of the state's economy and law-and-order situation, contrasting the initial vision of the party with the current reality. The leaders expressed their ambition to transform Punjab from its current struggles into an economically progressive and secure state.
Electoral Implications for 2027
The defections coincide with the AAP's release of its initial list of 40 candidates for the upcoming assembly polls, which includes prominent figures such as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann contesting from Dhuri, Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and jailed Minister Sanjeev Arora.
Opposition figures have been quick to capitalize on the ruling party's internal turmoil. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal predicted further fragmentation within the AAP ranks, asserting that public dissatisfaction will result in significant losses for the incumbent government in the upcoming electoral cycle.
Reporting by Gaurav Sen for Daily News 365.
About Gaurav Sen
Senior Editorial Director & Lead Geopolitical Analyst
Senior Editorial Director and investigative correspondent covering national affairs, international relations, defense, and economic policy for Daily News 365.
