IndiaPosted at: Nov 2 2026 4:34PM

Three Punjab AAP MLAs join BJP, berating AAP, praising PM Modi

New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) With the poll season approaching, the first signs of political realignment emerged from Punjab with three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs joining the BJP on Monday.
Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra (Sanaur), Chetan Singh Jouramajra (Samana) and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh (Amritsar North) joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of Punjab president Kewal Singh Dhillon and state in-charge Satish Poonia.
The move comes as a setback for the ruling AAP government in Punjab. Criticising their former party, the three leaders pointed to the deteriorating condition of the state and expressed their resolve to work towards its revival. “Today, Punjab is known as ‘Udta Punjab’. AAP has destroyed the state,” Pathanmajra said.
Jouramajra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and delivery on promises were the biggest reasons behind his decision to join the BJP, accusing the state government of failing to maintain law and order and address governance issues.
“Over the past five years, the situation has only gone down the hill, no one knows where a bullet will come from. There is a mining mafia and scams are taking place. We need a double-engine stable government in Punjab, ” he said.
Poonia identified drug abuse as Punjab's biggest challenge and alleged that the drug menace had devastated the state's youth. Drawing a comparison with Haryana, he said the neighbouring state had made progress in sports, employment and investment. “Haryana's young athletes have won 27 medals at the Asian Games. Punjab now looks at Haryana and asks how it has managed to generate employment, attract investment and bring prosperity to the state,” he said, adding that the BJP was committed to restoring Punjab's vibrancy and prosperity.
AAP sources, however, maintained that the three MLAs were in any case not being fielded by the party. The BJP expects more AAP legislators to join. Sources said BJP national secretary Sandeep Pathak, who selected the majority of AAP candidates for the 2022 Assembly elections with Raghav Chadha, played a key role in these defections.
Meanwhile, the BJP is expected to announce its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal after Diwali.UNI VS AAB

Tags: #Three Punjab AAP MLAs join BJP # berating AAP # praising PM Modi

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