Big blow to AAP in Punjab: Samana MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Sanour MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra quit Aam Aadmi Party
The resignations comes just months ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections in 2027.
PTC News Desk: In a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party, two MLAs have quit the party and resigned from their primary membership.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Sanour Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Samana MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra have announced their departure from the party following their resignation from party's primary membership.
The resignations comes just months ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections in 2027 and days after the Aam Aadmi Party had released its first list of candidates.
Both the leaders are scheduled to hold an important press conference at 4 pm on Sunday.
Who is Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra ?
Pathanmajra was elected as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from the Sanour Assembly constituency in Patiala district in the 2022 Punjab Assembly election. It was his first term as an MLA. Before entering the Assembly, he had served as a Block Samiti chairman and was associated with the Youth Shiromani Akali Dal.
The AAP MLA from Sanour in Patiala district, has faced several controversies, including a criminal case involving allegations of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation.
On September 1, 2025, Patiala Police registered an FIR based on a complaint by a woman from Zirakpur.
The woman alleged that Pathanmajra presented himself as divorced, entered into a relationship with her and married her in 2021 while he was already married. She also alleged sexual exploitation and threats.
Pathanmajra denied the allegations and described the case as politically motivated. His lawyers argued that the complaint was connected to political disputes and challenged the allegations.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court later granted him regular bail, with conditions including surrendering his passport and not contacting the complainant or witnesses. The court said the allegations of sexual exploitation would be examined at trial.
Arrest and escape from custody
Police attempted to arrest him in Haryana on September 2, 2025. He escaped from custody, and police said shots were fired and a policeman was injured. Pathanmajra disputed the police account and said he feared a staged encounter. He remained on the run for months and was arrested in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in March 2026.
Who is Chetan Singh Jouramajra ?
Jouramajra was elected MLA from Samana, Patiala district, in the 2022 Punjab Assembly election and served as a cabinet minister in the Bhagwant Mann government, including as Health and Family Welfare Minister. Jouramajra became a prominent figure in Punjab politics after AAP’s 2022 election victory and held ministerial responsibilities in the state government. His public profile has been shaped in particular by the 2022 hospital incident.
AAP releases list of 40 candidates
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its first list of candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections yesterday, as part of its election preparations. The list names 40 candidates and does not include any cabinet ministers.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia announced the candidates at a press conference in Delhi.
Batala — Amansher Singh (Sherry Kalsi)
Ajnala — Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal
Amritsar South — Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar
Tarn Taran — Harmeet Singh Sandhu
Khem Karan — Sarwan Singh Dhun
Nakodar — Inderjit Kaur Mann
Kartarpur — Balkar Singh
Dasuya — Karamvir Singh Ghuman
Urmar — Jasvir Singh Raja Gill
Hoshiarpur — Brahm Shankar Sharma Jimpa
Chabbewal — Ishank Kumar Chabbewal
Garhshankar — Jai Krishan Singh Rouri
Balachaur — Santosh Kataria
Rupnagar — Dinesh Chadha
SAS Nagar — Kulwant Singh
Fatehgarh Sahib — Lakhbir Singh Rai
Amloh — Gurinder Singh Gary Warring
Samrala — Jagtar Singh Diyalpura
Ludhiana East — Daljit Singh Grewal Bhola
Atam Nagar — Kulwant Singh Sidhu
Ludhiana Central — Ashok Parashar Pappi
Ludhiana West — Sanjeev Arora
Ludhiana North — Chaudhary Madan Lal Bagga
Payal — Manwinder Singh Giaspura
Nihal Singh Wala — Manjit Singh Bilaspur
Bagha Purana — Amritpal Singh Sukhanand
Moga — Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora
Dharamkot — Davinderjit Singh Laddi Dhos
Jalalabad — Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy
Fazilka — Narinderpal Singh Sawna
Muktsar — Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar
Kotkapura — Kultar Singh Sandhwan
Jaito — Amolak Singh
Talwandi Sabo — Baljinder Kaur
Sardulgarh — Gurpreet Singh Banawali
Bhadaur — Labh Singh Ugoke
Mehal Kalan — Kulwant Singh Pandori
Amargarh — Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra
Dhuri — Bhagwant Mann
Patiala — Ajitpal Singh Kohli