Political friction escalated sharply in Punjab following the sudden resignation of three legislators belonging to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. Reacting to the development on November 2, senior Congress leaders Pramod Tiwari and Udit Raj mounted an aggressive offensive, asserting that the governing party is grappling with deep internal discord that will trigger further departures in the near future. The political dispute erupted following the resignations submitted by Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, and Chetan Singh Jouramajra.
Congress Compares Ruling Party to a Sinking Ship
Weighing in on the resignations, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari remarked that whenever a vessel begins to capsize, those aboard rush to jump off first in an effort to save themselves. He argued that governance has been reduced to a mockery in the state. Tiwari leveled personal criticism against the Chief Minister, questioning how someone who remains under intoxication can lead an initiative to rid others of substance abuse. He noted that discussions about this behavior have spread domestically as well as internationally, adding that the Aam Aadmi Party has committed a breach of public trust.
Allegations of Remote Control Governance from Delhi
Echoing these concerns, Congress leader Udit Raj pointed out that the recent resignations serve as an unmistakable sign of deepening cracks within the organization, predicting that additional departures will soon follow. Questioning the timeline of the dissenting legislators, he asked why they had stayed in the party for so long when resentment was bound to spill over. Udit Raj also recalled that when party parliamentarians had previously walked away, between 40 and 45 legislators were already prepared to quit.
He further contended that the administrative reality of Punjab is now visible to everyone, claiming that Bhagwant Mann plays no meaningful part in governing the state. According to Udit Raj, the actual reins of power rest in the hands of Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and their associates, who are steering the state administration directly from Delhi. He warned that this internal exodus would only intensify in the coming weeks.
Disqualification Proceedings Initiated Against Defectors
Meanwhile, political developments picked up speed on the ground as the Aam Aadmi Party initiated measures to seek the disqualification of the legislators who renounced their primary membership on November 2 to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. The crisis surfaced barely a day after the party announced its first roster of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The party leadership, headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is planning to approach Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to formally demand the annulment of their assembly membership.
