Punjab Congress calls AAP a sinking ship after three MLAs join BJP
Congress leaders predicted more departures from the ruling party following the exit of three MLAs to the BJP on Monday.
Three sitting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs from Punjab joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi on Monday, according to reports by Moneycontrol and The News Mill. The defecting leaders are Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, and former Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra.
Punjab Congress President Pargat Singh described the AAP as a "sinking ship" and a "wall of sand" during a press conference in Chandigarh. Singh alleged that AAP leaders are paving the way for the BJP and claimed that central investigative agencies are being used to intimidate political figures.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also criticised the AAP, stating the party had not allowed Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh to function effectively during nearly five years in government. Bajwa questioned Singh regarding the investigation into the Maur bomb blast case and his position in a potential future alliance between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
The AAP had previously suspended Pathanmajra and Jouramajra for alleged anti-party activities, while Singh was suspended on June 29, 2025. Following their resignations, the Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly accepted the resignations of Singh and Pathanmajra, declaring their seats vacant.
This political shift occurs as the AAP prepares for the 2027 Assembly elections. On Saturday, the party announced its first list of 40 candidates, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann from Dhuri, Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan from Kotkapura, and Minister Sanjeev Arora from Ludhiana West.