In a dramatic escalation of Punjab’s political tussle, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday to spotlight the controversial jump of seven AAP Rajya Sabha members to the BJP. Labeling it ‘illegal horse-trading,’ Mann aims to expose what he sees as a blatant violation of anti-defection laws.
The meeting, confirmed by Mann to the media, centers on MPs Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Sahni, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta. Their April defection slashed AAP’s upper house presence from 10 to a mere three seats, crippling its influence.
‘These turncoats have insulted the mandate given by Punjab’s voters. They are nothing short of betrayers,’ Mann stated forcefully, rallying public sentiment against the switch.
Pushing back against those downplaying the episode, the CM remarked, ‘Normalizing such defections mocks democracy. Anyone defending it is plotting their own exit.’ This sharp rhetoric underscores the deepening rifts in Indian politics.
Bolstering his position, Mann highlighted his government’s unshakeable support. ‘Full backing in the house and beyond eliminates any need for a confidence vote,’ he said. Recent legislative successes, including the budget, prove the point.
Turning the tables on opponents, Mann challenged, ‘Critics questioning our assembly sessions should explain the Centre’s unkept promises first.’
This presidential intervention could set precedents in defection disputes, testing the resolve of leaders amid rising political fluidity. Punjab remains a hotspot, with Mann’s AAP fighting to reclaim stability after this seismic shift.
