Former Indian cricketer and ex-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh on Friday, 22 May issued a pointed warning to his former party, saying that when the time comes, he will reveal how many Rajya Sabha seats were sold in Punjab — and who paid how much. The remarks came in response to AAP functionaries calling him a 'traitor' following his defection to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

What Harbhajan Said on X

Responding directly to the 'gaddar' (traitor) label on social media platform X, Harbhajan Singh wrote: 'When the time comes, every word of yours will be answered. And I haven't insulted any of your leaders. Why should I dirty my tongue?' He went further, stating: 'And to those calling me a traitor, first ask your own people how many Punjab Rajya Sabha seats were sold. If they don't tell you, I'll tell you who got how much bribe and from whose side.'

He also alleged that Punjab had been systematically looted, writing that someone 'was made a minister or watchman to loot Punjab and deliver goods to Lala.' These are serious allegations that remain unverified and have not been substantiated with documentary evidence as of this report.

The Protest Outside His Home

The former off-spinner, who represented India for over two decades, has been at the centre of protests organised by AAP workers outside his residence in Jalandhar. The word 'traitor' was reportedly painted on the walls of his house, and an effigy was burned outside the premises.

Harbhajan responded sharply in a second post on X: 'It was the political party that burned an effigy outside my house and wrote 'traitor' on it. Common people don't do such things.' He invoked his sporting legacy, adding: 'This country has given me so much love — 20 years of raising the nation's name high on the sports field.' He dismissed critics as 'paid trollers' operating on social media without their real identities.

Background: The AAP Defection

Harbhajan Singh was inducted into the Rajya Sabha as an AAP member in 2022. On 24 April, he switched sides along with six other AAP MPs — all representing Punjab in the Upper House — and joined the BJP. The sole exception among the defectors was Swati Maliwal, who does not represent Punjab.

This is one of the largest single-bloc defections from AAP in the Rajya Sabha since the party's formation, and it arrives ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, sharpening the political stakes considerably.

Punjab Government's Response

Following the defections, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann convened a special one-day Assembly session and won a confidence motion, signalling that the ruling government retains a majority in the 117-member House. Mann declared that the AAP's support base remains intact and predicted an even stronger mandate in 2027. The session was widely seen as a pre-emptive political move to neutralise the narrative around the defections.

What Comes Next

Harbhajan's threat to publicly name individuals and amounts involved in alleged seat-selling, if acted upon, could significantly escalate the political confrontation between the BJP and AAP in Punjab ahead of the next election cycle. As of now, no formal complaint or legal action has been reported in connection with these allegations. Whether the former cricketer follows through — and with what evidence — will be closely watched.