In a significant political development ahead of Punjab’s upcoming Assembly elections, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s cousin, Gyan Singh Mann, joined the BJP on Monday, adding to the mounting political pressure on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state.
Gyan Singh Mann joined the BJP in the presence of Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar. The move is expected to intensify political debate in Punjab, with the Assembly elections less than a year away.
The development is being viewed as a setback for the ruling AAP at a time when the party is already facing criticism from opposition parties and grappling with internal challenges in Punjab.
Gyan Singh Mann has previously raised questions over the functioning of the Punjab government and has remained vocal on several public issues. During the devastating floods in Punjab, he criticised the government’s handling of the crisis and alleged that administrative failures had worsened public suffering.
He has also frequently expressed his views on key policy matters through social media posts and public statements, often taking positions at odds with those of the state government.
Political observers believe his decision to join the BJP could hand the opposition fresh ammunition to target the AAP government ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
