📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Satdeep Gill
Politics
Three Punjab AAP MLAs Defect to BJP Ahead of State Elections
✍️ Aaj Tak
🗓 02 Nov 2026, 11:44 AM
👁 3
Three AAP legislators from Punjab have resigned and formally joined the BJP, dealing a blow to the party before the upcoming state polls.
Three sitting members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, who were elected on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket, have announced their resignation from the party and have been accepted into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move was confirmed in a brief press statement released by the BJP’s state unit, which said the legislators had formally applied for membership and were welcomed as part of the party’s effort to strengthen its presence in the state.
The defections come at a critical juncture, with Punjab’s assembly elections scheduled for early next year. AAP, which currently holds a significant share of the opposition vote, is likely to feel the loss of three experienced lawmakers as it finalises its candidate list and campaign strategy.
Party officials from both sides have issued brief comments. AAP leaders described the switch as a betrayal of the voters’ mandate, while BJP representatives hailed the newcomers as valuable additions who will help the party connect with a broader electorate. Analysts suggest that the BJP hopes the defections will signal momentum and attract undecided voters in key constituencies.
Political observers note that such realignments are not uncommon in the run‑up to elections, but the timing underscores the intensity of the contest in Punjab. The impact on voter sentiment will become clearer as parties roll out their full campaign programmes in the coming weeks.
The defections come at a critical juncture, with Punjab’s assembly elections scheduled for early next year. AAP, which currently holds a significant share of the opposition vote, is likely to feel the loss of three experienced lawmakers as it finalises its candidate list and campaign strategy.
Party officials from both sides have issued brief comments. AAP leaders described the switch as a betrayal of the voters’ mandate, while BJP representatives hailed the newcomers as valuable additions who will help the party connect with a broader electorate. Analysts suggest that the BJP hopes the defections will signal momentum and attract undecided voters in key constituencies.
Political observers note that such realignments are not uncommon in the run‑up to elections, but the timing underscores the intensity of the contest in Punjab. The impact on voter sentiment will become clearer as parties roll out their full campaign programmes in the coming weeks.