Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Heads to Delhi to Petition President Over AAP MPs’ Shift to BJP

Chandigarh, May 5, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann departed for New Delhi on Tuesday to meet President Droupadi Murmu, aiming to formally raise concerns over the recent movement of seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Mann’s visit comes amid escalating political tensions following what AAP has described as a betrayal of the democratic mandate given by Punjab’s electorate and legislators. The Punjab Chief Minister is expected to urge the President to examine the constitutional and ethical implications of the MPs’ transition and advocate for stronger safeguards against such defections.

According to reports, Mann intends to present the issue as one of democratic accountability, arguing that elected representatives should not be permitted to alter political allegiance without consequences after securing their positions under a different party banner. He has also emphasized the need for stricter anti defection provisions to preserve public trust in parliamentary institutions.

The controversy centers on seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including prominent leaders, who recently aligned with BJP, triggering sharp criticism from the Punjab leadership. Mann has repeatedly maintained that this development undermines the people’s mandate and weakens democratic principles.

The meeting with the President follows Punjab Assembly’s recent confidence motion, where Mann’s government reaffirmed its legislative majority while simultaneously condemning the defections. By approaching Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mann seeks to escalate the matter to the highest constitutional office in the country.

This latest move underscores the intensifying political confrontation between AAP and BJP, particularly in Punjab, where the ruling party is attempting to defend its political legitimacy against what it sees as aggressive opposition expansion.