AAP suffers major setback in Punjab: Three MLAs quit party in 48 hours, likely to join BJP today

November 2, 2026

Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered another major political setback in Punjab. Three prominent party MLAs have resigned from the party or assembly membership within 48 hours. In the latest development, suspended MLA and former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh resigned from the Punjab Assembly on Monday.

His resignation comes a day after two other Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, Chetan Singh Joudmajra and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, resigned from the party’s primary membership. These resignations have intensified political turmoil within Punjab’s ruling party, which is preparing for the 2027 assembly elections.

The three MLAs include Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from Amritsar North, Chetan Singh Joudmajra from Samana, and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra from Sanaur. All three are expected to join the BJP today. Jodmajra and Pathanmajra have already reached the BJP headquarters with their supporters.

Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh submits resignation to Assembly Speaker

Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh announced his resignation from the Punjab Assembly through a Facebook post. He also shared a copy of the resignation letter sent to Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan.

In his letter, he wrote, “I am resigning from my seat in the House with effect from November 1, 2026.”

The former IPS officer was suspended from the Aam Aadmi Party for five years in June 2025 for alleged anti-party activities. His suspension came after he criticized the Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s action against Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who was arrested in a disproportionate assets case.

Kunwar Vijay Pratap had also repeatedly questioned the Bhagwant Mann government’s actions regarding the 2015 sacrilege and police firing cases in Faridkot. He was part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents.

On Sunday, he accused the Aam Aadmi Party of deviating from its original principles and criticized the party leadership, Arvind Kejriwal, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Joudamajra and Pathanmajra leave the party amid fears of ticket denials

Chetan Singh Joudamajra and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra announced their resignations from the party on Sunday. This development came a day after the AAP released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The Samana and Sunour assembly seats were not included in this list.

The party also appointed new constituency in-charges for these two seats, leading to speculation that the current MLAs were unlikely to receive a second ticket.

Both MLAs accused the Bhagwant Mann government of failing to fulfill their election promises. He specifically criticized the government for its promise to make Punjab drug-free. He also raised issues such as the state’s rising debt, law and order, farmers’ problems, and the lack of facilities in government schools and hospitals.

Joda Majra served as a cabinet minister from January 2023 to September 2024. He questioned the government’s response to the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhotha in Mansa.

Pathan Majra alleged that the Punjab government was being run by AAP leaders from Delhi and that state leaders lacked decision-making authority.

AAP targets MLAs who resigned

Following the MLAs’ departure from the party, the Aam Aadmi Party also retaliated. Punjab AAP chief Aman Arora alleged that the BJP was trying to co-opt leaders who had left or been expelled from other parties.

Party spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal took a dig at the BJP, calling it a “junk shop.”

These resignations come as the Aam Aadmi Party prepares to win a second consecutive term in the Punjab Assembly elections in 2027. The MLAs’ departure has brought to the forefront discussions about differences within the AAP and its candidate selection strategy.