Punjab Vidhan Sabha has accepted the resignations of two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while disqualification proceedings have been initiated against the third rebel, Chetan Singh Jouramajra.
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who represented Amritsar North, and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, MLA from Sanaur, resigned from the Assembly before joining the BJP in Delhi on Monday. Their resignations have been accepted, and the Vidhan Sabha has declared both constituencies vacant.
However, Jouramajra, who represented Samana, has resigned only from the primary membership of the AAP. He has not resigned as an MLA.
Following his exit from the party, AAP chief whip Baljinder Kaur wrote to the Vidhan Sabha, seeking his disqualification.
According to Assembly officials, the secretariat has sent Jouramajra a letter asking him to respond to the chief whip's request.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretary Ram Lok told that Jouramajra has been asked to appear before the Speaker on November 5.
He said the Assembly could initiate disqualification proceedings in his absence if he failed to respond to the notice and appear before the Speaker.
The proceedings against Jouramajra are separate from the acceptance of resignations submitted by the other two MLAs.
Meanwhile, the AAP has criticised the BJP for inducting the three former party leaders, accusing it of relying on individuals facing serious allegations instead of building its own leadership and organisation in Punjab.
The ruling party alleged that the BJP was bringing in leaders who had been suspended, removed or distanced by their previous parties over their conduct.
AAP also referred to allegations of rape, serious corruption and cases involving firing at Punjab Police while attacking the BJP's decision.
The party said it had taken action against its own MLAs, while accusing the BJP of giving political space to leaders facing allegations.
Punjab AAP president Aman Arora said the BJP could not expect to win the state by relying on such leaders.
“If the BJP believes that it can win by relying on such individuals, it is day dreaming. The entire state has seen the BJP’s anti-Punjab intentions,” Arora said.
The developments come ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, after the three AAP leaders switched to the BJP.
With the resignations of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra accepted, their seats are now vacant. Jouramajra's Assembly membership, meanwhile, remains under the disqualification process initiated by the Vidhan Sabha.
The Speaker is scheduled to hear the matter on November 5.
