Three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including two sitting MLAs, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, dealing a setback to the ruling party in Punjab just months ahead of the 2027 Assembly
elections. The exits came amid criticism of the AAP government over issues including drugs, extortion and corruption, with one of the departing leaders calling for a return to “clean politics” and transparent administration.
The three leaders who joined the BJP are sitting MLAs Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Chetan Singh Jouramajra and former AAP legislator Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh. The trio reached the BJP headquarters in Delhi for the formal joining ceremony.
Their departure comes at a crucial time for the AAP, which has begun preparing for the 2027 Assembly elections and recently announced its first list of 40 candidates.
Why Did Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh Quit AAP?
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who represented the Amritsar North constituency, announced his resignation from the Punjab Legislative Assembly on Monday before joining the BJP. He had been suspended from the AAP on June 29, 2025.
In a post on X addressed to the people of Amritsar, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh thanked them for their support and said he would remain indebted to them “until my last breath” for their love and respect. He called for a collective effort to move beyond what he described as “the politics of lanes and ribbon-cutting” and said Punjab needed to be brought back on the path of progress.
Describing the state as being “trapped by drugs, extortion, gangsterism and corruption”, Kunwar Vijay PratapSingh said he wanted to work towards clean politics and transparent administration.
“Working together with you to formulate a forward strategy, I will aim to ensure clean politics and transparent administration,” he wrote, adding that his sole purpose was “Punjab First” and that he had no personal interests.
Why Did Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra And Chetan Singh Jouramajra Leave AAP?
The two sitting MLAs resigned from the AAP after being suspended by the party over alleged anti-party activities. The AAP also said it would approach the Punjab Assembly Speaker seeking their disqualification as legislators. Their move comes amid a period of political activity in Punjab ahead of the 2027 polls, with the AAP already announcing its first set of candidates.
More AAP Leaders Could Follow?
Reacting to the defections, BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill described the exits as “just the beginning” and claimed that a “mega exodus” was impending for the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
“This is just the beginning of a mega collapse. As they say euphemistically, ‘picture abhi baaki hai’,” Shergill told India Today.
Taking a swipe at the AAP’s election symbol, the broom, he said: “Since their symbol is Jhadu, Jhadu ke teele-teele ho rahe hain aur honge aur yeh puri tana bikhrengi 2027 chunav se pehle.”
