On April 24, 2026, seven of the Aam Aadmi Party’s 10 Rajya Sabha MPs formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, a shift that has intensified political debate in Punjab ahead of assembly elections scheduled in early 2027. Videos of Union minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu’s earlier public jibes at Raghav Chadha have gone viral on Punjabi social media, underscoring the political and personal tensions tied to the defections.
Bittu, who joined the BJP from the Congress and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan after losing the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat in 2024, had told a web channel on April 12 that there was “no need” for Chadha to join the BJP because “he’s already doing the work he’s doing,” and mocked Chadha’s “catwalk.” After the seven MPs crossed over, Bittu sought to clarify that his earlier point was about Chadha’s remaining two-year Rajya Sabha term, a legal obstacle he said was effectively removed by the mass defection. He also repeated the catwalk jibe and, in Punjabi, referred to a “final catwalk” to be staged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Of the seven who switched allegiance, six are from Punjab: Raghav Chadha, strategist Sandeep Pathak, industrialists Ashok Mittal, Vikramjit Sahney and Rajinder Gupta, and cricketer Harbhajan Singh; Swati Maliwal is the sole defector from Delhi. Chadha, who was removed as AAP deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha on April 2, said on joining the BJP that he acted because he “didn’t want to be a part of their sins,” echoing BJP accusations of corruption against AAP leaders. Chadha has posted compilations of his parliamentary work on Punjab issues and written that “Punjab is not a talking point for me. It is my commitment. It is my soul.”
Reactions were swift and polarized. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dismissed the defectors as non-mass leaders and labelled them “gaddar” (traitors), while Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar welcomed those who, he said, “chose to leave the sinking ship of AAP.” Punjab Congress leader Amarinder Singh Warring warned that the exodus exposed AAP’s weakness and predicted further resignations. At the joining ceremony in Delhi, BJP leaders including Tarun Chugh attended, signalling the party’s intent to press its advantage in the state.
The defections boost the BJP’s presence ahead of a complex, multi‑cornered 2027 contest involving AAP, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP. The BJP, which secured roughly 19% of Punjab’s vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but won no seats, has been expanding its Punjab roster through high-profile inductions, a strategy union leaders say will be central as the party eyes contesting the state alone in 2027.
Original Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-raghav-chadhas-bjp-entry-minister-bittus-recent-jibes-viral-what-aap-mps-switch-means-for-bjp-in-punjab-2027-101777115389412.html
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-26 03:47:00
