Punjab, November 2, 2026: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a significant political setback ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with three of its MLAs leaving the party and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The defections have triggered fresh political debate in the state, raising questions about AAP’s internal unity, candidate selection process and prospects of retaining power in the upcoming elections.
Who Are the Three MLAs?
The three legislators who have joined the BJP are:
- Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra: MLA from Sanaur in Patiala district.
- Chetan Singh Jouramajra: MLA from Samana and a former minister in the Bhagwant Mann government.
- Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh: MLA from Amritsar North and a former IPS officer.
Pathanmajra and Jouramajra resigned from AAP following disagreements with the party leadership. Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who had previously been suspended from the party, also joined the BJP.
Timeline of Events
The political developments unfolded over three days:
- October 31: AAP announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Assembly elections.
- November 1: Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Chetan Singh Jouramajra resigned from the party, citing dissatisfaction with the government’s functioning and internal party issues.
- November 2: The three MLAs joined the BJP at its headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of senior party leaders.
The BJP welcomed the leaders, describing their entry as a boost to its political prospects in Punjab.
Reasons Behind the Defections
Discontent Over Candidate Selection
The resignations of Pathanmajra and Jouramajra came shortly after AAP released its first list of candidates for the upcoming elections.
Although their constituencies were not included in the initial list, reports of changes in constituency-level responsibilities and uncertainty over candidate selection reportedly contributed to their dissatisfaction.
Criticism of the AAP Government
The departing legislators raised several allegations against the Bhagwant Mann government, including:
- Failure to effectively curb drug trafficking in Punjab.
- Rising state debt and concerns over financial management.
- Failure to fulfil promises regarding minimum support prices for farmers.
- Shortages of teachers in government schools.
- Inadequate action in cases related to sacrilege.
These are allegations made by the legislators and have not been independently established as findings.
Internal Party Differences
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh’s departure reflects longstanding differences with the AAP leadership.
The former police officer, who was part of the Special Investigation Team probing the 2015 Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents, had previously criticised the government’s handling of sacrilege-related cases. He was suspended from AAP for five years in 2025 over alleged anti-party activities.
BJP Sees an Opportunity to Strengthen Its Position
The BJP has described the induction of the three leaders as an important step towards expanding its political presence in Punjab.
Senior BJP leaders welcomed the former minister, the sitting legislators and their political experience, saying their entry would strengthen the party’s organisational base.
The new entrants also criticised the AAP government over law and order, alleged corruption, illegal mining and other governance issues.
The BJP has claimed that growing dissatisfaction with the state government could encourage more AAP leaders to join its ranks.
AAP’s Response
AAP leaders criticised the BJP’s move, accusing it of accepting leaders who had either been suspended or had abandoned their political responsibilities.
Punjab AAP president Aman Arora dismissed the defections as an attempt by the BJP to gain political ground in a state where it has traditionally struggled to build a strong independent base.
The party has also indicated that it may approach the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly seeking disqualification proceedings against the defecting MLAs.
What Does This Mean for the 2027 Elections?
The defections could have several implications for Punjab’s political landscape:
A challenge to AAP’s organisational unity: The departure of three legislators may expose internal dissatisfaction and raise concerns about whether other leaders could follow suit.
A potential boost for the BJP: The induction of a former minister and an experienced former police officer could provide the BJP with local political networks and greater visibility.
Fresh campaign issues: Drug trafficking, unemployment, law and order, state debt and governance are likely to feature prominently in the BJP’s campaign against AAP.
AAP won 92 of the 117 seats in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, securing a decisive mandate. Retaining power in 2027 remains its primary political objective.
However, the impact of these defections on the election outcome will depend on whether the BJP can convert the new leaders’ influence into electoral support and how voters respond to the competing narratives of the AAP, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP.
Conclusion
The entry of three AAP MLAs into the BJP marks an important political development ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The defections have brought internal party tensions, governance concerns and candidate selection issues into sharper focus.
While the BJP stands to gain from the induction of experienced political figures, the electoral consequences remain uncertain. The coming months will reveal whether this development represents an isolated setback for AAP or the beginning of a broader shift in Punjab’s political landscape.
