First poll-season defections in state; MLAs flag drug menace, law and order and Punjab’s deteriorating condition
02 November, 2026 – New Delhi : In the first set of poll-season defections in Punjab, three rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs joined the BJP in New Delhi on Monday, turning their differences with the party into a collective political break ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election.
Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra from Sanaur, Chetan Singh Jouramajra from Samana and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from Amritsar North joined the BJP at its headquarters in the presence of Punjab BJP in-charge Satish Poonia, co-incharge Virendra Sachdeva and state BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon.
Pathanmajra and Jouramajra had resigned from the AAP’s primary membership on Sunday. Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh had been suspended by the AAP in June 2025 and also resigned as an MLA before joining the BJP.
Speaking after joining the BJP, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said Punjab was fighting for its existence. Referring to the lines “Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha”, he said Punjab had been given priority, but was in a pathetic condition today. He also described his five years with the AAP as an “internship period”.
Pathanmajra attacked the AAP government’s record, saying Punjab was now known as “Udta Punjab”. He alleged that the government had taken around Rs 2.5 lakh crore in loans and “destroyed” the state.
He said the AAP had initially offered an attractive vision, but those who raised their voices were sidelined. Punjab, he said, should become “Ubharta Punjab”.
Jouramajra said Punjab was the “land of God”, but its condition had deteriorated over the past five years. He alleged that there was a mining mafia and scams involving government schemes, and said the state needed a “double-engine” government to stabilise it.
“Punjab is the land of God, but over the past five years, it has become terrible. No one knows where a bullet will come from. There is a mining mafia, and scams are taking place in schemes. We need a double-engine government in Punjab, as the state needs a push to become a stable state,” he said.
Jouramajra also said the biggest reason for leaving the AAP and joining the BJP was that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had delivered on his promises.
Meanwhile, Punjab BJP in-charge Satish Poonia said drug abuse was the biggest challenge facing Punjab and alleged that the drug menace had destroyed the state’s youth.
“While working on the ground, one thing became clear to us: the biggest challenge facing Punjab is drug abuse. The youth of Punjab have been destroyed by the drug menace,” he said.
Poonia also drew a comparison between Punjab and Haryana, saying the latter had made progress in sports, investment, employment and other sectors in the six decades since its separation from Punjab. He cited the 27 medals won by Haryana’s athletes at the Asian Games and said Punjab was looking at how Haryana had generated employment, attracted investment and brought prosperity.
Poonia said the BJP was committed to restoring Punjab’s “vibrancy and prosperity”.
The Tribune