Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Anandpur Sahib, Malvinder Singh Kang, on Monday strongly criticized the seven Rajya Sabha members of his party who have defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of betraying the party for personal gains. Kang asserted that all AAP MLAs in Punjab remain firmly united behind Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Illegal and Unconstitutional Merger
Addressing the media, Kang stated, "This is an illegal and unconstitutional merger. The BJP has only two MLAs in Punjab, so how can they have six Rajya Sabha members from the state? The AAP gave these defectors respect, but they chose to join a party that always tries to divide society." He emphasized that the people of Punjab gave a clear mandate in favor of the AAP.
Reasons for Defection
When asked about the possible reasons behind the defection of seven Rajya Sabha members, Kang explained, "We believe they had personal interests. Some of them were afraid of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate. They switched sides to protect their businesses." He reiterated that the AAP will continue to serve the people of Punjab.
Political Reactions
Meanwhile, leaders from the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab have claimed that several AAP MLAs might switch parties ahead of the elections, particularly those who fear they may not be renominated by the AAP. However, Kang dismissed such claims, reaffirming the unity within the party.
This development comes amid ongoing political realignments in Punjab, with the BJP attempting to expand its footprint in the state. The AAP has accused the BJP of poaching its lawmakers through inducements and threats, while the BJP maintains that defectors are joining voluntarily for better governance.
