NEW DELHI: In the first set of poll-season defections in Punjab, three rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at its headquarters in New Delhi on Monday, marking a major political break ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The three legislators-Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra from Sanaur, Chetan Singh Jouramajra from Samana, and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from Amritsar North-inducted into the party in the presence of Punjab BJP in-charge Satish Poonia, co-incharge Virendra Sachdeva, and state BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon.
Pathanmajra and Jouramajra had resigned from the AAP’s primary membership on Sunday. Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who was suspended by the AAP in June 2025, also resigned as an MLA before joining the BJP.
Speaking after the induction, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said Punjab was fighting for its existence. Referring to the national anthem’s lines “Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha”, he noted that while Punjab was given priority, it finds itself in a pathetic condition today. He termed his five-year stint with the AAP as an “internship period”.
Attacking the AAP administration’s track record, Pathanmajra said Punjab was now known as “Udta Punjab”. He alleged that the government had taken loans worth around Rs 2.5 lakh crore and “destroyed” the state. He added that while AAP initially offered an attractive vision, leaders who raised their voices were sidelined. He called for turning the state into “Ubharta Punjab”.
Jouramajra stated that Punjab was the “land of God”, but its condition had severely deteriorated over the past five years. “No one knows where a bullet will come from. There is a mining mafia, and scams are taking place in schemes,” he said, adding that the state requires a “double-engine” government to achieve stability. He cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s track record of fulfilling promises as the primary reason for joining the BJP.
Addressing the gathering, Punjab BJP in-charge Satish Poonia highlighted drug abuse as the single biggest challenge facing the state, alleging that the menace has destroyed Punjab’s youth.
Drawing a comparison with neighboring Haryana, Poonia said Haryana had progressed significantly in sports, investment, and employment since its separation from Punjab six decades ago. Citing the 27 medals won by Haryana athletes at the Asian Games, he said Punjab was looking at how Haryana generated employment and brought prosperity. He affirmed that the BJP remains committed to restoring Punjab’s vibrancy.
