New Delhi, May 5, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday arrived in the national capital accompanied by all Aam Aadmi Party MLAs from Punjab, taking the ongoing political dispute over alleged defections of Rajya Sabha members directly to the President of India. The delegation submitted a signed memorandum at Rashtrapati Bhavan, urging immediate intervention in what the Chief Minister described as a serious violation of democratic principles.
Mann alleged that seven Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab switching allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party represented a “distortion of the public mandate” and demanded action to revoke their membership. He maintained that the developments amounted to a betrayal of Punjab’s voters and called for stronger constitutional safeguards against such political shifts.
Addressing the issue, the Chief Minister said the sudden change in party affiliation by the MPs undermined electoral integrity and challenged the spirit of representative democracy. He argued that elected representatives should resign and seek a fresh mandate if they choose to change political parties.
Mann also questioned the disproportionate representation of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha from Punjab despite its limited presence in the state assembly, calling it inconsistent with the ground electoral reality. He asserted that such political developments amounted to manipulation of the democratic framework.
In his remarks after the meeting, Mann reiterated his demand for systemic reform, including the introduction of a recall mechanism for elected representatives. He said such provisions were necessary to ensure accountability and prevent misuse of parliamentary positions.
The Chief Minister further accused the BJP of using central investigative agencies and political strategies to influence opposition leaders, describing it as a threat to democratic institutions. He claimed that attempts to destabilize Punjab’s government through inducements and defections would not succeed.
Reaffirming his stance, Mann said the people of Punjab would respond strongly to what he termed betrayal by elected representatives and added that political accountability would ultimately be decided by voters. He also stressed that legal action would be taken in cases of wrongdoing, regardless of political affiliation.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by AAP legislators, who extended solidarity during the visit. Mann described the delegation’s presence as a unified demonstration of support for safeguarding Punjab’s mandate and democratic rights.
The meeting marks an escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the Punjab government and the BJP over allegations of political defections, setting the stage for a wider institutional and political debate on party switching and parliamentary ethics.
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