CHANDIGARH: The exit of two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs has set off a war of words in Punjab, with the BJP welcoming the departing leaders, Congress claiming more could follow and AAP taking a swipe at the BJP’s choice of new entrants.AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj took a dig at the BJP after three former AAP leaders joined the party on Monday, saying it had a “habit of collecting trash”.He claimed the BJP did not even have 117 candidates to field in the 2027 Punjab assembly elections, describing it as a “hollow construct”. Bharadwaj said AAP would not give tickets to leaders whose candidacies had been dropped following negative feedback.The BJP, meanwhile, welcomed the three leaders, saying their political, social and administrative backgrounds would strengthen the party ahead of the elections.BJP national general secretary and Punjab in-charge Satish Poonia claimed there was an undercurrent in favour of the BJP and anti-incumbency against the ruling AAP.Poonia accused the AAP government of failing to fulfil its promise of ending the drug menace, saying chitta had destroyed Punjab’s youth and that corruption and crime remained major challenges.He also referred to Union home minister Amit Shah’s promise to eradicate drug abuse in the state by December 31, 2029, and said the BJP was committed to restoring Punjab’s former glory.Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon also took a swipe at AAP. In a post on X, BJP said, “The time has come for the ‘Aap’ people to leave Punjab; under the guise of ‘change’, the ‘broom’ people have deceived Punjabis.”
More may jump ‘ship’: Congress
Congress leaders claimed the exits were unlikely to be the last.MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said several AAP MLAs were dissatisfied with the party and could join different political outfits. He accused the AAP government of failing to address corruption, the drug problem and the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.Punjab Congress working president Raj Kumar Verka claimed his party had received a list of 35 to 40 AAP leaders likely to leave. He said several others had also approached Congress and expressed a desire to join it.Verka, however, said Congress would not simply collect “political rejects”, adding that it already had candidates capable of winning elections. Comparing AAP to a sinking ship, he said people were jumping off as the party’s position worsened.
‘Nothing new’: AAP
Punjab cabinet minister Barinder Kumar Goyal dismissed claims that more AAP legislators would switch sides, saying similar assertions had been made repeatedly since the government came to power.“They have been making such claims since the very first day the government was formed, saying that 35 people are in touch with them, sometimes 30 people are in touch with them, and that they will topple the government. Nothing has come of it,” Goyal said.He claimed the AAP government had done work in Punjab that other parties could not accomplish in 50 years.Goyal also said the departing leaders should not have quit despite having received the party’s support and respect, and should instead have discussed any differences.
Departing leaders have their own score to settle
The reactions followed the resignations of Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra from AAP on Sunday, a day after the party announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 assembly elections.Both had been suspended earlier over alleged anti-party activities. On Monday, they joined the BJP along with former IPS officer and suspended AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who also resigned from the Punjab assembly.Jouramajra criticised the AAP government over its handling of drugs, healthcare and education, saying it had failed to deliver on its promises.He said the party had pledged to eradicate drugs within three to four months of coming to power and improve education and healthcare, but had not fulfilled those commitments.He also questioned the implementation of health insurance schemes, saying patients were struggling to receive treatment despite the announcement of health cards worth Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. On education, he pointed to teacher vacancies, school closures and declining student enrolment.Jouramajra said some AAP MLAs who had already received tickets for the 2027 polls might give them up and join the BJP. Citing drug abuse, gang activity and snatching incidents, he said a BJP government was needed to address Punjab’s problems.Pathanmajra also expressed confidence that the BJP would form the next government, saying people wanted this and that others would join once a few key issues were resolved. He described the BJP as the only party capable of tackling Punjab’s debt, drugs and gangsterism, and said the state needed support from the Centre.Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said AAP was finished in Punjab and blamed Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann for the party’s decline. “For all practical purposes, AAP no longer exists,” he told ANI, expressing confidence that a BJP government would soon be formed in the state.Calling his time with AAP a “five-year internship”, Singh said he was formally joining the BJP and would work to restore peace and prosperity in Punjab. He also recalled his tenure as an SP in Amritsar, claiming that drug abuse and crime had been brought under control during his time in the district.(With agency inputs)
