The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is under political pressure in Punjab after two of its sitting MLAs resigned from the party and joined BJP. This comes ahead of 2027 Punjab Assembly elections and a day after AAP released first list of 40 candidates.
The two legislators are Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra (Sanaur Assembly constituency) and Chetan Singh Jouramajra (MLA Samana). Both constituencies fall in Patiala district.
Pathanmajra resigned to AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Jouramajra announced his decision on social media. As per reports published on November 2 both the leaders will join BJP at an event in Delhi tomorrow.
The resignations have been noticed because neither MLA was in AAP’s first list of candidates for the Assembly elections. The party had recently appointed new constituency in-charges for Sanaur and Samana so speculation is rife that the sitting legislators may not get tickets for another term.
Why Did the Two MLAs Leave AAP
Both leaders have targeted Bhagwant Mann-led government on drug menace, Punjab’s growing debt burden, governance and handling of proposed anti sacrilege legislation.
Jouramajra questioned the government’s efforts to curb drug abuse and said incidents involving people who had spoken against drug menace should not happen. He also criticised the way law and order was being handled by the government and said many promises made to people of Punjab were not fulfilled.
Pathanmajra also questioned the state’s finances and debt burden. He alleged that leaders based in Delhi had great influence over functioning of Punjab government.
Pathanmajra said he would join a political party that could work for the welfare of Punjab. He also mentioned BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress as possible destinations of his political future.
Reports say he has declared his intention to contest Assembly elections 2027 from Sanaur.
AAP Responds to the Resignations
The resignations were met with a strong response from AAP leadership in Punjab. Party leaders hit out at BJP for reportedly inducting leaders who had left or faced problems within other parties.
Punjab AAP president Aman Arora defended the party’s stand and said it had always stood for Punjab’s interests. He also criticised BJP’s reported move to bring the two former AAP legislators into its fold.
Party spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also took a swipe at BJP saying it is collection point for political leaders rejected by other parties.
Political Developments Ahead of 2027 Elections
The two resignations come at a time when Punjab politics is gearing up for Assembly elections in 2027 as political parties have started preparing for the polls.
AAP has announced its first list of 40 candidates recently and made an early start on election preparations. But exits of two sitting legislators have put internal disagreements and candidate selection in focus.
The BJP’s expected induction of Pathanmajra and Jouramajra could also give another dimension to the political contest in Punjab.
With the Assembly elections round the corner developments within AAP, BJP and other political parties are likely to remain an important part of state politics.
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