In a big blow to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, three of its legislators, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Chetan Singh Jouramajra, and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday.
The party, however, had not announced candidates for either Sanaur or Samana, the constituencies represented by the Pathanmajra and Jouramajra. Former cabinet minister and Samana MLA Jouramajra also announced his resignation through a social media post. Pathanmajra, the MLA from Sanaur, submitted his resignation to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, quitting the party with immediate effect.
The resignations came after the AAP released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 assembly elections.
After quitting the AAP, both leaders launched a scathing attack on the party’s leadership, alleging that its Delhi-based leaders, particularly Kejriwal and his close aide Bibhav Kumar, were interfering in Punjab’s governance. Former cabinet minister and Samana MLA Jouramajra also announced his resignation through a social media post. Confirming their move to the BJP, Pathanmajra said both leaders would be formally inducted into the party by BJP president Nitin Nabin in Delhi on Monday. Earlier reporting noted: Confirming their decision to join the BJP, Pathanmajra said both leaders would be formally inducted into the party by BJP president Nitin Nabin in Delhi on Monday. Earlier reporting noted: AAP strayed from its founding ideals, says MLA Kunwar Vijay Suspended AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh on Sunday slammed AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that the party had strayed from its founding ideals.
He also pointed to the party’s commitment to eliminating drugs, citing Union home minister Amit Shah’s recent announcement on the issue. They also accused the state government of failing on several fronts, citing alleged corruption, rising crime, snatching incidents, extortion, gang violence and murders. They further questioned the government’s failure to fulfil its promise of making Punjab drug-free. “Moving forward, formulating a strategy together with you to ensure clean politics and a transparent administration will be my objective. My sole purpose is ‘Punjab First’. Other than that, I have no personal self-interest,” he added.
Explaining his decision, Pathanmajra said the BJP, being a national party, could bring significant benefits to Punjab if it came to power in the state.
Earlier reporting noted: Pathanmajra, the MLA from Sanaur, submitted his resignation to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, quitting the party with immediate effect.
