3 Punjab AAP MLAs quit, join BJP; Congress says 'politics has become a joke'
Synopsis
Just one day after AAP unveiled its first candidate list for the 2027 Punjab polls, three sitting MLAs quit the party and joined the BJP — a stinging rebuke that hands Congress and BJP fresh ammunition. Congress leaders are now openly predicting a larger exodus, claiming up to 40–45 MLAs are ready to leave, while AAP is racing to file disqualification petitions.
Key Takeaways
Three AAP MLAs — Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh , Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra , and Chetan Singh Jouramajra — resigned from AAP and joined BJP on 2 November 2026 .
The defections came a day after AAP released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections .
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said 'politics has become a joke' and compared AAP to a sinking ship.
Congress leader Udit Raj claimed 40–45 AAP MLAs were ready to quit, predicting further defections.
AAP, led by CM Bhagwant Mann , is reportedly preparing to seek the disqualification of the three MLAs through Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan .
The Indian National Congress on Monday, 2 November 2026, mounted a sharp offensive against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after three of its Punjab legislators resigned from the party's primary membership and crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Senior Congress leaders Pramod Tiwari and Udit Raj alleged that AAP was in the grip of a deepening internal crisis and predicted further defections in the days ahead.
The Three MLAs Who Left
The legislators who resigned from AAP and joined BJP are Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, and Chetan Singh Jouramajra. Their departure comes just a day after AAP released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections — a timing that critics say underscores the fractures within the party ahead of the crucial poll cycle.
Congress Sharpens Its Attack
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari invoked a pointed analogy to frame the defections. 'There is an old saying that when a ship begins to sink, those on board start jumping off first to save themselves,' he said. He added: 'What a joke politics has become! The Chief Minister, who is always intoxicated, has set out to rid others of addiction. People in the country and abroad are discussing how he is intoxicated. Well done, Aam Aadmi Party! You have deceived and betrayed the people.'
Congress leader Udit Raj went further, claiming the exits were a sign of an imminent broader exodus. 'A stampede was bound to happen in the party, and now the stampede is underway,' Raj said. He alleged that as many as 40–45 MLAs had been ready to quit when AAP's MPs walked out earlier. He further claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had 'no involvement in running the government' and that the administration was effectively being steered from Delhi by Manish Sisodia, Arvind Kejriwal, and their associates — allegations that AAP has not yet publicly responded to.
AAP's Counter-Move: Disqualification Push
Even as Congress pressed its attack, AAP began preparing its own legal response. The party, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is reportedly set to approach Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, seeking the disqualification of the three defecting legislators under anti-defection provisions of the Constitution. Political activity across Punjab intensified through the day as both sides mobilised.
Context: Why This Matters for 2027
The defections arrive at a particularly sensitive moment for AAP in Punjab. The party is the only state where it holds power outside Delhi, making Punjab central to its national credibility. The simultaneous release of its first candidate list for 2027 was intended to project confidence; the resignations the very next day have blunted that messaging. Notably, this is not the first instance of dissent within AAP's Punjab unit — internal discontent over governance and candidate selection has simmered for months, according to reports. If the Congress figures of 40–45 restive MLAs carry any weight, the coming weeks could see further turbulence ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested state election.
Point of View
Turning what should have been an election-readiness signal into a story about internal collapse. Congress's talk of 40–45 restive MLAs may be opposition hyperbole, but the number is now part of the political narrative and will be repeated until AAP provides a credible counter. More fundamentally, Punjab is the only major state where AAP holds power, making every defection there an existential optics problem — not just a numbers game. If the disqualification petitions drag through the Speaker's office slowly, AAP risks months of drip-drip attrition news heading into election season.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which AAP MLAs resigned and joined BJP in Punjab?
The three AAP MLAs who resigned from the party and joined the BJP on 2 November 2026 are Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, and Chetan Singh Jouramajra. Their defection came a day after AAP published its first candidate list for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Why did Congress attack AAP over the Punjab MLA resignations?
Congress leaders Pramod Tiwari and Udit Raj used the defections to argue that AAP is in an internal free-fall ahead of the 2027 Punjab polls. Tiwari compared the party to a sinking ship, while Raj claimed up to 40–45 MLAs were ready to leave, alleging that governance in Punjab was being run remotely from Delhi.
What action is AAP taking against the three defecting MLAs?
AAP, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is reportedly preparing to petition Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to disqualify the three MLAs under anti-defection rules. The move follows the legislators' formal resignation from AAP's primary membership.
How does this affect AAP's position ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections?
Punjab is AAP's only major state government outside Delhi, making it central to the party's national standing. Defections just as the campaign season begins undermine its narrative of stability, and a prolonged disqualification battle could dominate headlines in the run-up to the election.
What did Congress leader Udit Raj say about Bhagwant Mann's governance?
Udit Raj alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had no real involvement in running Punjab's government and that the administration was effectively being directed by Manish Sisodia, Arvind Kejriwal, and their associates from Delhi — claims that AAP has not publicly addressed.
