Punjab CM Mann Meets President Murmu Over Defection Of AAP Rajya Sabha MPs

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan, raising strong objections over the recent defection of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MPs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move that has triggered a major political controversy in Punjab.

The issue pertains to the reported exit of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs , including six from Punjab, who allegedly joined the BJP. The development has been termed by AAP as a serious breach of democratic mandate and voter trust.

During the meeting, Mann reportedly urged the President to cancel or recall the membership of the defected MPs , describing the move as necessary to protect the integrity of the electoral mandate. However, constitutional experts point out that India currently has no provision for recalling Members of Parliament , making the demand largely political in nature.

Mann also submitted a written memorandum signed by AAP MLAs from Punjab , highlighting the party’s concerns over what it described as an unprecedented political shift affecting its representation in Parliament.

A large number of AAP legislators, nearly 90 to 95 MLAs accompanied the Chief Minister to Delhi, staging a show of unity. The MLAs gathered near Rashtrapati Bhawan while the meeting with the President took place.

According to party sources, the MPs who defected include Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Kumar Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Swati Maliwal . The AAP has contested the legitimacy of their claim under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) , arguing that the switch undermines democratic principles.

Ahead of the meeting, Mann said on X that AAP’s fight for Punjab’s rights and interests would continue “unabated,” and that the delegation had come to present the state’s concerns before the President.

The political developments have intensified debate over anti-defection provisions and the lack of a recall mechanism in India’s parliamentary system, with opposition leaders calling the controversy politically motivated while AAP continues to press its demand for action.