AAP internal unrest grows after MLA resignations, ticket anxiety rises
Unrest has increased within the Aam Aadmi Party regarding election tickets and government functioning after three MLAs joined the BJP. State president Aman Arora has denied any impact on the party due to the departure of the rebel leaders.
Political equations are changing rapidly within the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab following the resignation of three MLAs and their joining the BJP. Ahead of the assembly elections, the party faces the challenge of retaining the trust of its MLAs and protecting its electoral narrative. Due to MLAs leaving the party, internal tug-of-war regarding government functioning and seat distribution has become a talking point.
The party recently released its first list of 40 candidates, in which only a few names out of 94 sitting MLAs were announced. With the list including only one minister along with the Chief Minister, confusion persists among the remaining aspirant MLAs and ministers.
At the same time, the party has replaced sitting MLAs with new constituency incharges in five assembly constituencies including Pathankot, Sujanpur, Bathinda Rural, Jalandhar Cantt, and Kharar. This move has raised questions over whether the ticket in the upcoming elections will go to the sitting MLA or the new incharge. There is also discussion that tickets of several other MLAs could be cut based on survey reports.
On the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party state president Aman Arora claimed that the three MLAs who went to the BJP had already been sidelined due to anti-party activities and two of them were already suspended. He said that the departure of these leaders will not affect the party and the government will seek a fresh mandate from the people solely on the basis of its work and achievements.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have intensified their attacks on the government over this issue. Punjab Congress President Pargat Singh targeted the government, calling it a weakening regime. Both the BJP and the Congress claim that several other MLAs and ministers of the ruling party are in touch with them.
Notably, Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has already accepted the resignations of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, declaring their seats vacant. Meanwhile, the party had already deployed a new constituency incharge in Chetan Singh Jouramajra's constituency.
Key developments
- Anxiety over tickets increases among AAP MLAs following the exit of three rebel MLAs
- Uncertainty among remaining MLAs due to the announcement of only 40 candidates in the first list
- New constituency incharges appointed in place of MLAs across five constituencies
- According to state president Aman Arora, MLAs who left the party were already sidelined
- Opposition parties claim several other MLAs and ministers are in contact with them
