Defection exposes widening cracks within AAP’s Punjab unit; MLAs accuse Delhi leadership of ignoring state concerns.
New Delhi: Punjab witnessed a political upheaval on Friday as a majority of AAP MLAs declared support for Janata Party’s Navneet Chaturvedi, in what appears to be the biggest internal revolt in the party’s state unit to date.
Chaturvedi had filed his nomination as an independent candidate on Monday. Initially, only 10 MLAs were backing him, but by Thursday evening, the number had surged to 70. This step, taken against AAP’s official candidate Rajinder Gupta, raises serious questions about the party’s organization and leadership approach.
Addressing the press, Chaturvedi said, “This support is not about any individual, it represents the voice of the people of Punjab. Many AAP MLAs have been unhappy for a long time with the party leadership’s disregard for the state’s issues. Now, Punjab’s voice will be heard in Parliament.”
Party sources revealed that several MLAs are frustrated with decisions being made in Delhi, often ignoring the state’s perspective. They believe that Punjab’s interests should be represented in the Rajya Sabha by local leaders, not outsiders.
Political analysts say this is not just about numbers; it signals a lack of trust within the party. The open support of 70 MLAs indicates that dissatisfaction has run deep. Experts suggest this unrest may continue even after the elections, potentially affecting AAP’s Punjab unit.
After AAP’s defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, Punjab had been considered the party’s strongest base, where it achieved a historic win in 2022. However, that foundation now appears to be weakening. If Chaturvedi wins the Rajya Sabha by-election scheduled for October 24, it could be a significant setback for AAP and may fuel discontent in other states as well.
This is not the first time internal disagreements have surfaced in AAP. Since the expulsion of founding members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan in 2015, tensions between principles and power have persisted within the party. Punjab’s current situation is seen as the latest episode in this ongoing struggle.
A party founded on the promise of clean politics and giving voice to the people is now facing questions about its own decisions and direction. The coming weeks will reveal whether the party can overcome this crisis or if this rebellion marks the start of a new chapter in Punjab’s political landscape.
