Two AAP MLAs From Patiala Resign; Party Blasts BJP Over Recruits

A fresh setback has hit the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab after two of its MLAs from Patiala district resigned from the party. AAP has described the resignations as a consequence of disciplinary action, saying both legislators had already been removed.

The first resignation came from Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who represents Sanaur in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. He was elected in the 2022 assembly elections and is a member of AAP. Reports say that action taken against him by the party led to his sharp criticism of the leadership, which eventually culminated in his resignation.

The second came from Chetan Singh Jodamajra, MLA from Samana. He informed the public about his decision through a social media post, confirming that he had resigned from the primary membership of AAP. Reports suggest he was left out of the party's first list of candidates, which prompted him to take this step.

Jodamajra had won Samana by a considerable margin in 2022 on an AAP ticket. He subsequently served as a cabinet minister in the Bhagwant Mann government.

Aman Arora, Punjab AAP state president, said in an X post that the party had always placed Punjab first and had removed any leader who engaged in corruption or worked against the state's interests. He argued that the BJP was now assembling such people because it had no base of its own and showed no concern for Punjab's interests. Arora also said the BJP was seeking individuals who had fired on Punjab Police and had been jailed on rape charges, calling this evidence that the party was hollow in the state.

Baltej Pannu, AAP general secretary and media in-charge, echoed these remarks in an X post. He said both MLAs had been sidelined due to their conduct and would now join a BJP that he claimed was short of candidates in Punjab. According to Pannu, the BJP had become a party for people discarded by other parties.