AAP to Seek Disqualification of Defected RS MPs as CM Mann Meets President Murmu

The political row over the defection of Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party intensified on Saturday, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann seeking time from President Draupadi Murmu to discuss the issue and present his party’s stand.

According to party sources, Mann is expected to meet the President along with AAP MLAs, raising concerns over the alleged “recall” of Rajya Sabha members from Punjab who quit AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The development comes a day after seven Rajya Sabha MPs , including six from Punjab, reportedly left AAP and aligned with the BJP, triggering a major political controversy.

Among those named in the defection are Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak , along with Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal, and Vikramjit Sahney. Chadha alleged that the party leadership had moved away from its core principles and values , which led to their decision to join the BJP, claiming it was a collective shift.

In response, Mann strongly accused the BJP of attempting to “break the Aam Aadmi Party” and destabilise the government in Punjab. He also alleged that the defecting MPs had betrayed the trust of voters in the state.

Mann further said the BJP’s discomfort stems from Punjab’s recent governance progress, including improvements in schools, hospitals, roads, and employment , and claimed that political pressure tactics were being used due to the party’s weak base in the state.

He also questioned the political strength of the defecting MPs, stating that they did not represent strong mass support.

The AAP currently holds 94 MLAs out of 117 seats in the Punjab Assembly, making the developments at the national level a significant political concern for the party.

The issue is now expected to gain further momentum as AAP prepares to raise its concerns formally, adding both constitutional and political weight to the ongoing dispute.