Big setback for AAP ahead of Punjab elections; 3 rebel MLAs join BJP

AAP rebel MLA's at BJP headquater

NEW DELHI: Rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Chetan Singh Jouramajra along with ohter leaders raised slogans of 'BJP zindabad' outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Delhi on Monday, signalling their likely move to the saffron party.According to a video shared by news agency ANI, the two leaders were seen raising slogans at the BJP headquarters. They are expected to formally join the BJP shortly.

The development comes a day after both MLAs resigned from the primary membership of the AAP, accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government of failing to address issues such as the drug menace, rising state debt and governance-related concerns.Pathanmajra represents the Sanour constituency, while Jouramajra is the MLA from Samana in Punjab's Patiala district.

Their resignations came shortly after AAP released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Neither constituency figured in the list.AAP has said it will approach the Punjab Assembly Speaker seeking cancellation of the legislative membership of both MLAs, alleging that they had engaged in anti-party activities. The party had suspended both leaders before they announced their resignations.

AAP targets BJP over possible induction of rebel MLAsThe BJP's expected induction of the two leaders has drawn criticism from the AAP leadership. Punjab AAP president Aman Arora accused the BJP of attempting to induct leaders who had left or been expelled from other parties.

AAP chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal had also described the BJP as a 'kabaad di dukaan' (scrap shop), accusing it of collecting rejected political faces.Meanwhile, Pathanmajra had said that the two leaders would join a party that worked in the interest of Punjab.Jouramajra, a former Punjab minister, served in the Bhagwant Mann cabinet from January 2023 to September 2024 before being dropped during a cabinet reshuffle.