Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is facing fresh uncertainty after reports claimed that a large group of its MLAs are in touch with former party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha.
According to the report, Chadha—described as a disgruntled MP—along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs announced their exit from AAP, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s functioning. Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal are said to have joined the BJP in the presence of BJP national president Nitin Nabin, triggering political buzz.
The development is also said to have reduced AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha from 10 to 3. Chadha was elected to the Upper House from Punjab, and his move has led to speculation that AAP could lose its grip on power in the state.
Punjab has 117 Assembly seats, where AAP currently governs with 92 MLAs. Sources claim 63 of these MLAs are aligned with Chadha, and if they were to move to the BJP, the AAP government could face the threat of collapse.
Reacting to the defection, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann alleged that the same “washing machine” used in other parties had been deployed in Punjab as well, and said the seven MPs who joined the BJP would not represent Punjab.
