32 AAP MLAs in Punjab to join Congress: Pratap Bajwa

Chandigarh, Feb 24: Punjab’s political landscape is witnessing a serious shake-up as senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Pratap Bajwa has said that 32 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs are in touch with him and want to join the Congress. The move comes a week ahead of the Punjab Assembly session and has triggered political speculation across the state.

Bajwa also said in a dramatic fashion that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will soon be replaced by the AAP leadership. In his view, the ruling party has failed to implement pre-poll assurances, including a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,000 for women, which has apparently been deferred indefinitely.

Congress MLA Pargat Singh also criticised the AAP government, claiming that it is not inclined to convene a long session of the Assembly, sidelining important discussions on matters of governance. Singh also backed Bajwa’s claim that Chief Minister Mann’s tenure may be cut short soon, indicating that there is discontent within the AAP.

The crisis has escalated following the AAP’s poor performance in the recent Delhi Assembly elections. The party, which ruled Delhi for a decade, suffered a setback as it managed to secure only 22 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came out ahead with 48 seats. The defeat has apparently led to a crisis within the AAP leadership and thus rumours of a change in the top leadership in the party are rife.

Amid this turmoil, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has called Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and party MLAs for a crucial meeting at Kapurthala House in Delhi. The meeting, which comes after the AAP’s electoral defeat, has surprised people as the BJP has alleged that its primary agenda is to replace Bhagwant Mann as Punjab chief minister. However, AAP leaders have insisted that the summit is aimed at evaluating the reasons for the party’s recent defeat and planning for the future.

The BJP has used this opportunity to mount pressure on the AAP government in Punjab, challenging its stability and leadership. The Congress sees this as an opportunity to regain its lost ground in the state by luring potential defectors from the AAP to its side. If Bajwa’s allegations turn out to be true, it will dramatically change the political equations in Punjab and pose a serious challenge to the AAP’s rule in the state.

As the political drama continues, all attention is now focused on the next assembly session and the meeting in Delhi, which could seal the fate of the AAP government in Punjab.