Punjab BJP Slams Kejriwal After AAP Rajya Sabha Exodus, Calls It Sign of Deep Crisis

Chandigarh, April 2026 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab on Friday launched a strong attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following the exit of two-thirds of its Rajya Sabha MPs, saying the development exposes serious internal rifts and raises questions about the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.

Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma said the large-scale defections reflect growing dissatisfaction within AAP and point to what he described as Kejriwal’s increasingly “authoritarian style” of functioning. “Such mass exits expose deep cracks within the party and indicate that dissent against Kejriwal’s leadership is rising,” Sharma said in a statement.

He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that he had failed to address the core issues and instead tried to divert attention with irrelevant remarks. Sharma termed Mann a “puppet,” claiming that the state government was not functioning independently.

Referring to recent controversies, Sharma said the alleged mistreatment of Swati Maliwal and the developments surrounding Raghav Chadha were serious matters that would leave a lasting impact on public perception. He further accused the AAP leadership of misleading the people of Punjab over the past four-and-a-half years, stating that voters had expected governance rooted in local leadership but had instead witnessed the opposite.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar welcomed the Rajya Sabha MPs who switched sides, saying their move would strengthen the BJP in the state while accelerating AAP’s decline. He described AAP as a party facing one of the shortest active political lifespans in recent times.

In a social media message, Jakhar said, “A warm welcome to those who have left the sinking ship of AAP in time and joined the BJP.” He alleged that poor governance, corruption, and rising lawlessness under AAP had disillusioned the people of Punjab, forcing even committed leaders within the party to reconsider their positions.

Jakhar further criticised the AAP government’s policies, claiming they had distanced the administration from the public. He pointed to issues such as rising crime, drug abuse, and gangster activity, alleging that these problems had intensified under the current regime. “People no longer feel safe, and the youth are increasingly falling prey to drugs and criminal networks,” he said.

He also took aim at what he called AAP’s “remote control” style of governance, arguing that decision-making remains centralised and does not allow capable leaders to function independently.

The BJP’s sharp response underscores the political significance of the Rajya Sabha defections, which have not only weakened AAP’s parliamentary strength but also intensified the political battle in Punjab ahead of future electoral contests.