The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab on Monday, 2 November began preparing to seek the disqualification of two sitting MLAs — Chetan Singh Jouramajra of Samana and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra of Sanaur — who resigned from the party's primary membership a day earlier. The ruling party, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is expected to formally approach Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to terminate the legislators' Assembly membership.

What Triggered the Split

The departures came within 24 hours of AAP releasing its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Crucially, neither Samana nor Sanaur constituencies were included in that list, a perceived slight that reportedly accelerated both legislators' decision to break ranks. According to reports, the party had already suspended both MLAs earlier, citing involvement in anti-party activities — making their formal resignation a public confirmation of an internal rupture that had been building.

AAP's Disqualification Push

AAP's National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has maintained that the two MLAs had already been suspended for anti-party conduct. With their resignation now formalised, the party intends to invoke the anti-defection law and relevant constitutional provisions before the Speaker. However, legal experts note that resigning from a party's primary membership does not automatically strip an MLA of their Assembly seat — the final call rests with the Speaker, whose ruling under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution will be determinative.

BJP Speculation Mounts

Speculation is intensifying that both Jouramajra and Pathanmajra may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though no official confirmation has been made by either legislator or the BJP. Their next political move is being closely watched, particularly in the context of the 2027 election cycle. This is not the first time AAP has faced defection pressures in Punjab; the party has navigated several internal dissent episodes since sweeping to power in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections with a historic majority.

What the Anti-Defection Law Says

Under the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, an elected member faces disqualification if they voluntarily give up the membership of their political party. The key phrase — 'voluntarily give up' — has been interpreted broadly by courts to include acts beyond a formal resignation letter. The Speaker's decision, once made, is subject to judicial review. Given Punjab's charged political climate with elections under two years away, all eyes are on Speaker Sandhwan's ruling and its timeline.

Political Fallout Ahead

The episode marks a notable setback for the ruling AAP ahead of a critical election year. The party's decision to publicise its candidate list early was intended to project confidence and pre-empt rival claims; instead, it may have inadvertently triggered the very defections it sought to pre-empt. Political observers note that the coming weeks will test AAP's organisational cohesion in Punjab and the Centre's strategy of maintaining a unified front in its only state government.