Protests Rock Punjab as AAP Leaders’ Switch to BJP Sparks Political Turmoil
With Assembly elections on the horizon, the fallout from these defections is likely to extend well beyond the immediate protests. What began as anger on the streets may well translate into a longer-term test of political resilience for AAP—and an opportunity for the BJP to recalibrate its ambitions in Punjab.
Protests broke out across parts of Punjab on Saturday as workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gathered outside the residences of Rajya Sabha MPs Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal and Rajinder Gupta, a day after the leaders quit the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In Ludhiana and Jalandhar, protesters raised slogans of “Punjab de Gaddar” and spray-painted “Gaddar” (traitor) on boundary walls, reflecting anger among the party’s grassroots cadre. Members of the AAP youth wing assembled outside Harbhajan Singh’s residence, shouting slogans and expressing strong resentment over what they described as a “betrayal” of the party. Some demonstrators also defaced walls outside the property with objectionable remarks.
In a separate protest, party workers gathered outside Lovely Professional University (LPU), targeting Ashok Mittal. Demonstrators burned an effigy and accused him and other leaders of abandoning the party for political gain. Posters outside the university were also defaced with black spray paint during the agitation.
Protesters alleged that seven Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh and Ashok Mittal, had left AAP to join the BJP, calling the move a “betrayal of Punjab and its people.” Many demonstrators wore black bands as a mark of protest. Despite police deployment, minor scuffles were reported when authorities attempted to disperse crowds.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had earlier accused the BJP of trying to destabilise his government, asserting that the people of Punjab place high value on political loyalty and do not easily forgive perceived betrayal.
The protests follow a major political setback for AAP. On Friday, senior leaders Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak announced their exit from the party to join the BJP, along with five other Rajya Sabha MPs—Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal and Vikramjit Sahney. The scale of the defection has significantly dented AAP’s presence in the Rajya Sabha and raised questions about internal unity.
For AAP, the episode presents both a political and organisational challenge, particularly in Punjab—its only full-governance state. While the party has framed the exits as acts of disloyalty, the departure of prominent leaders has exposed internal fault lines that could affect its standing ahead of the next Assembly elections. The situation risks unsettling local leadership and weakening the party’s grip on its support base.
The BJP, meanwhile, appears to have strengthened its position by bringing in leaders with visibility and networks in Punjab. The move not only boosts its numbers in the Upper House but also helps the party project AAP as divided and unstable, potentially reshaping voter perception in the state.
