Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met with President Droupadi Murmu seeking the cancellation of the Rajya Sabha membership of seven MPs who resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and subsequently joined other parties. These MPs include Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (Shiromani Akali Dal), Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra (Shiromani Akali Dal), and five others who joined the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mann argued that these MPs were elected on an AAP ticket and benefitted from the party’s symbol and support. Their defection, he stated, violates the principles of representative democracy and the trust placed in them by voters. He emphasized that the anti-defection law should be applied rigorously to prevent such instances in the future.
The Chief Minister conveyed that the MPs’ actions amounted to a betrayal of the mandate given by the people of Punjab who voted for AAP candidates. He requested the President to direct the Rajya Sabha Chairman to initiate proceedings for their disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with disqualification of members on grounds of defection.
Mann highlighted that the defections weakened the AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha and undermined the party’s ability to effectively represent the interests of Punjab in the Upper House. He asserted that allowing such defections to go unchecked would set a dangerous precedent and encourage political opportunism.
The meeting with the President was part of Mann’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the AAP’s position in the state and ensure accountability among elected representatives. He reiterated his commitment to upholding the principles of transparency and integrity in governance. The outcome of the President’s consideration of his request remains to be seen, but the move signals AAP’s determination to address what it views as a breach of trust by the former MPs.
