Political Earthquake in Punjab: 3 AAP MLAs Jump Ship to BJP
Three AAP legislators, including former IPS Kunwar Vijay Pratap, quit to join BJP, citing corruption and law and order failures in Punjab.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Punjab, three sitting legislators from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This high-profile shift comes at a critical juncture as the state gears up for the 2027 Assembly elections, signaling a potential crack in the ruling party's stronghold.
The Great Exit: Who Left AAP?
The exodus includes three prominent figures who have now aligned themselves with the BJP. The legislators who made the switch are:
- Chetan Singh Jouramajra (representing Samana)
- Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra (representing Sanour)
- Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh (representing Amritsar North), a former IPS officer.
The timeline of the departures was swift. Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra first tendered their resignations on November 1, 2026. Following them, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh submitted his resignation from the legislative assembly on the morning of November 2, 2026.
Formal Induction in New Delhi
The transition was formalized on November 2, 2026, at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. The three leaders were officially welcomed into the saffron fold during a ceremony attended by senior party leadership, including Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon and Punjab BJP in-charge Satish Poonia.
Why the Switch? Serious Allegations Against the Government
The timing of these defections is particularly striking, as they occurred shortly after AAP released its first list of 40 candidates for the upcoming state assembly polls. The departing legislators did not leave quietly; they leveled a series of scathing accusations against the current Punjab government.
The leaders cited several systemic failures as the primary drivers for their decision to leave AAP, including:
- Law and Order: A claim that the security situation in the state is deteriorating.
- Crime and Gangsters: The rising menace of gangsters and an increase in extortion cases.
- Corruption: Allegations of deep-rooted corruption within the administration.
- Drug Crisis: A failure by the government to effectively curb the state's persistent drug epidemic.
Legal Battles and Disqualifications
The fallout from these resignations has already reached the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly. The Speaker has formally accepted the resignations of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, officially declaring their seats vacant.
However, the transition is not without conflict. AAP has launched a legal counter-offensive by filing a petition with the Speaker. The party is seeking the disqualification of Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra under the stringent anti-defection law.
The Case of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh
The departure of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh carries additional weight due to his history with the party. It is noted that he had previously been suspended from AAP for a period of five years in June 2025, following allegations of engaging in anti-party activities.