Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab has lost two MLAs to the Congress in just over a week, leaving the rebellion-riddled party in further disarray, and on the verge of losing its status as the main opposition party.
AAP’s Ropar MLA Amarjeet Singh Sandoa joined the Congress in the presence of Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh Saturday evening, nine days after the MLA from Mansa, Nazar Singh Manshahia, had joined the party on 25 April. With these defections and earlier resignations, the AAP’s MLA count is down to 11.
The defections come two weeks before the Lok Sabha elections in the state, slated to be held on 19 May, grossly affecting the electoral prospects of AAP candidates on the 13 parliamentary seats.
In a video message to party supporters, a worried-looking Bhagwant Mann — AAP’s state president who is trying to defend his Sangrur seat — said there is nothing to fear, and that the cadre should remain enthused and work towards making its candidates win.
However, sources said this trend will not stop here. “The Congress has more surprises up its sleeve, which it is going to reveal as the election date draws nearer,” said a senior Congress leader.
Rebellion and resignations
The AAP was a serious contender for power in the 2017 assembly elections in Punjab, but ended up with only 20 seats as the Congress swept to power. However, it prided itself on breaking the Congress-SAD duopoly and replacing the latter as the main opposition party.
Also read: How AAP lost the plot in Punjab, and may struggle to retain its 4 Lok Sabha seats
However, eight MLAs turned rebels in August last year under the leadership of Sukhpal Singh Khaira when he was removed from the post of the leader of the opposition.
The MLAs with Khaira included Kanwar Sandhu, Master Baldev Raj, Piramil Singh Khalsa, Jai Krishan Singh Rodi, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Nazar Singh Manshahia and Jagtar Singh Jagga.
The AAP suspended Khaira and Sandhu for anti-party activities, stopping short of throwing them out. Later, it managed to bring Rodi back into its fold, while Manshahia has now joined the Congress.
The six remaining MLAs of the Khaira camp have created their own political outfit, the Punjab Ekta Party. Khaira and Master Baldev Raj have resigned from the AAP and as MLAs too, and are contesting the Lok Sabha polls on PEP tickets from Bathinda and Faridkot respectively. Their resignations are, however, yet to be considered by the assembly Speaker.
Apart from the rebels, Dakha MLA and former leader of the opposition in the assembly Harvinder Singh Phoolka also resigned from the AAP and the Vidhan Sabha, citing his desire to fight “bigger” battles to cleanse Sikh institutions in Punjab.
SAD eyes LOP chair
The Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in Punjab has 18 MLAs. On the strength of its 15 MLAs and the BJP’s three, the SAD can now stake claim to wrest the leader of the opposition’s post from the AAP.
“After these elections, we are going to put forward our claim for being the main opposition party in the assembly. The Speaker has already received resignations of at least three (AAP) MLAs, but he is yet to take a decision on them,” said SAD general secretary Daljit Singh Cheema.
He added that the Speaker, Rana K.P. Singh, was among those present with the chief minister when Sandoa joined the Congress Saturday. “As Speaker of the Punjab assembly, he should have abstained from joining in such defections,” said Cheema.
Bhagwant Mann, meanwhile, alleged that this was a conspiracy hatched between the Congress and the SAD.
Also read: Akali Dal wants to know status of rebel AAP MLAs in Punjab assembly
“The Congress is in a great hurry to hand over the reins of the opposition to the SAD. Captain Amarinder and Sukhbir Badal are hand-in-glove. The Congress wants to ensure that the Akalis lead the opposition and remain soft on them,” he said after Sandoa joined the Congress.