Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann seeks President's time, to raise AAP MPs' defection issue
PTC News Desk: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has sought time to meet President Droupadi Murmu along with other party MLAs to present his stance on the recall of seven Rajya Sabha members who have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Punjab CM is expected to raise the issues of the MPs' defection and call for their return into the party fold. According to the sources, he is likely to tell the President that they were elected by AAP MLAs and each AAP MLA is elected by 2.5 lakh people in each constituency. Hence, people’s choice was AAP in Punjab.
Earlier on Friday, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal on Friday declared that they have parted ways with the party and decided to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mann's approach to the President is seen as contritutional outreach and show of political strength amid growing distress as BJP is expanding its footprints in Punjab.
By appearing with a united group of MLAs, Bhagwant Mann is trying to show that the party’s lawmakers in the state are still together and fully support the leadership.
This show of unity is mostly symbolic but still important politically. At a time when Opposition parties are accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to break parties in states it doesn’t govern, Mann’s move seems aimed at preventing any such situation in Punjab.
Once a close aid of Kejriwal, Chadha had built his reputation as one of the most vocal critic of the Bhartiya Janata Party and his sudden switch has raised not only raised questions over evolving internal rifts but has also triggered political debate.
- PTC NEWS
