AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has summoned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the party MLAs to the national capital amid rumours of defection ahead of the state cabinet meeting.
The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, follows claims by the state Congress leaders that they are in contact with nearly 30 AAP MLAs.
The state cabinet meeting was planned to be held after four months on February 6. The meeting had been rescheduled for February 10, and again postponed to February 13.
While the agenda of the meeting is not known Kejriwal will likely give the party legislators a 'pep talk', asking them to reconnect with the voter as “aam aadmi” in their respective constituencies and not get swayed by the benefits that come with power, said sources.
The focus of the party's top leadership seems to have shifted to Punjab, the only state held by it now.
AAP Member of Parliament from Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang said that the meeting is part of a continuous process aimed at taking feedback from party leaders to shape future strategy.
"It is an organisational meeting to prepare the next strategy as feedback from all party units is being taken to form the future strategy. On Tuesday, under the leadership of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Punjab MLAs will meet Arvind Kejriwal."
AAP had earlier accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to poach its MLAs as part of 'Operation Lotus' in the state.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa revealed that over 30 AAP MLAs have been in touch with his party for nearly a year and are ready to switch sides.
“A leadership battle is now imminent, as the party leadership in the capital may want to replace Mann, especially since all the MLAs and the cadre in the state are aligned with the party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal. A by-election is due in Ludhiana (West) assembly constituency. Kejriwal may be eyeing this seat to join the state assembly,” he claimed.
In the recent Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP secured 48 seats in the 70-member House and is set to form the government after more than 26 years. AAP won 22 seats, while Congress failed to win any seats for the third consecutive time.
Ahead of the elections, the entire Punjab unit of AAP, including Chief Minister Mann, Cabinet ministers, MPs, and MLAs, aggressively campaigned in Delhi to support AAP candidates.
They highlighted Punjab's achievements, such as providing 50,000 government jobs, offering 300 units of free power, establishing 850 'Aam Aadmi Clinics’ modelled after Delhi's 'Mohalla Clinics,' and purchasing a private thermal power plant.
Mann, the party's star campaigner, led roadshows in Delhi to showcase his government’s work and gather support for AAP candidates.
The defeat in Delhi has dealt a significant blow to AAP, with opposition leaders predicting a similar downfall in Punjab, where only three out of its 13 candidates won in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In 2022, AAP made a strong entry into Punjab, winning 92 seats in the 117-member assembly.
While the BJP won 48 seats in the 70-member House, the AAP secured 22, and the Congress drew a blank in the polls held on February 5.
(With inputs from PTI)
