Pargat Singh Calls AAP a Sinking Ship After 3 Leaders Join BJP

Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh on Monday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after three party leaders from Punjab joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), describing the development as a sign of a weakening government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Speaking to ANI, Singh called AAP a “sinking ship” and alleged that its leaders were paving the way for the BJP. He also accused central investigative agencies of being used to intimidate political leaders, intensifying the political exchange ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

Pargat Singh Calls AAP a ‘Sinking Ship’

Reacting to the defections, Pargat Singh said the departures reflected growing political uncertainty within AAP. He urged Congress leaders not to be intimidated by investigative action.

“This is a sinking ship. They are paving the way for the BJP. ED raids, CBI raids… I am telling my leaders: fight boldly. This is merely a tactic to scare and threaten people,” Singh told ANI.

His remarks came after three prominent Punjab AAP leaders joined the BJP in New Delhi on Monday, marking a significant political development ahead of the next Assembly elections.

Three Punjab AAP Leaders Join BJP

The three leaders who joined the BJP are sitting MLAs Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and former Punjab health minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra.

The leaders represent the following constituencies:

• Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh: Amritsar East/North
• Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra: Sanour
• Chetan Singh Jouramajra: Samana

The defections have added to political tensions in Punjab as parties prepare for the 2027 Assembly elections. The development also follows disciplinary action against some of the leaders by AAP.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Accepts Two MLAs’ Resignations

AAP had earlier suspended Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Chetan Singh Jouramajra over alleged anti-party activities. Both leaders subsequently resigned from the party. AAP had said it would approach the Punjab Assembly Speaker to seek their disqualification as legislators.

On Monday, the Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly accepted the resignations of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and declared their Assembly seats vacant.

AAP had also suspended Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh on June 29, 2025. The party’s earlier disciplinary action against the leaders had further widened the differences within its Punjab unit.

AAP Announces First List of 40 Candidates for 2027 Elections

The political developments come as AAP has begun preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. On Saturday, the party announced its first list of 40 candidates, naming several prominent leaders for key constituencies.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been fielded from Dhuri, while Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has been named as the candidate from Kotkapura.

Minister Sanjeev Arora, who is currently in jail, has also been named as the party’s candidate from Ludhiana West.

Political Tensions Rise Ahead of Punjab Assembly Elections

The departure of three AAP leaders and the acceptance of two resignations have created fresh challenges for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

While Pargat Singh has used the defections to question the strength of the Bhagwant Mann-led government, AAP’s candidate announcement indicates that the party has started its election preparations. The developments are expected to remain a focus of political debate in Punjab as parties begin positioning themselves for the upcoming electoral contest.