Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Dismisses Bajwa’s Claims of AAP Leaders Defecting

Mumbai, 11th February 2025: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday dismissed claims made by Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who alleged that around 30 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders from the state were in touch with him and considering a switch.

Mocking Bajwa’s repeated assertions, Mann remarked that the Congress leader had been making similar claims for the past three years without any credibility. He quipped that Bajwa should first take stock of how many MLAs his party has in Delhi before making such statements.

Mann’s comments came after a key meeting with AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, held just days after the party’s significant defeat in the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections. The gathering, which took place at Kapurthala House, was attended by all 91 Punjab AAP MLAs and senior party leaders, including former Delhi Minister Manish Sisodia, who lost the Jangpura Assembly seat to the BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah.

Following the meeting, Mann addressed reporters, revealing that Kejriwal and Sisodia had expressed their appreciation for the efforts of Punjab’s AAP unit in the Delhi elections. He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to infrastructure development in Punjab and easing the burden of toll charges in the state. Acknowledging the electoral loss in Delhi, he emphasized that victories and defeats are part of politics and that AAP remains focused on its governance goals.

Mann also highlighted that Punjab would benefit from Delhi’s governance model and that AAP would work collectively to make Punjab a benchmark state. He asserted that Punjab has historically been at the forefront of major movements and will continue to lead by example.

Meanwhile, a day before the Delhi election results were announced on February 9, Bajwa had also suggested that Mann might defect to the BJP, alleging that he was in contact with the Union Home Ministry. Drawing a comparison to Maharashtra politics, Bajwa claimed that if a political shift were to happen in Punjab, Mann would be the first to switch sides, akin to Maharashtra’s Eknath Shinde. He further speculated that Kejriwal might contest from Ludhiana and integrate himself into the Punjab government.

Refuting any speculation about leadership changes within AAP, Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reaffirmed that there was no question of Mann stepping down. He dismissed the rumours as an attempt by the opposition to create unnecessary panic, adding that the Punjab Cabinet was set to meet on Thursday.

Echoing similar sentiments, AAP MP Malvinder Kang emphasized that party meetings are a routine part of its operations. He stated that Kejriwal has always played a guiding role in assessing the party’s performance and strategizing for future elections. Kang reiterated that AAP remains committed to governance under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann in Punjab and Kejriwal at the national level.

Currently, Punjab stands as the only state where AAP holds power. After its heavy defeat in the Delhi elections, the party now faces the challenge of strengthening its position ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. In 2022, AAP secured a decisive victory in Punjab, winning 92 out of 117 seats, while the Congress won 18 and the Shiromani Akali Dal secured three.