Chandigarh, May 5
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday left for Delhi along with party MLAs to raise the issue of seven Rajya Sabha MPs joining the Bharatiya Janata Party and seek the intervention of President Droupadi Murmu. The development comes after a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party following the recent defections.
Mann is scheduled to meet the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Before leaving, he said all party MLAs stand united and emphasized that the President, as the constitutional head, would be informed about Punjab’s concerns. “Only I have been given time for the meeting,” Mann said, adding, “The President is the guardian of the Constitution.”
In a message shared online, Mann said the government remains committed to protecting Punjab’s rights and presenting the state’s concerns. He said the visit aims to place Punjab’s position firmly before the President and reaffirm the government’s responsibility towards all sections of society.
MLAs and ministers gathered at the chief minister’s residence before departing for Delhi, holding placards in support of Punjab and criticizing the defecting MPs. Party leaders said a memorandum seeking the recall of the Rajya Sabha members would be submitted during the visit.
The development follows the April 24 exit of seven Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha and Swati Maliwal, from the AAP to join the BJP, most of whom are from Punjab. Ministers criticized the move, alleging it was in violation of the state’s mandate. Mann also said he would present a copy of the confidence motion passed by the Punjab Assembly.
Earlier, Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan accepted the merger of the MPs with the BJP, reducing the AAP’s strength in the Upper House to three. The meeting is expected to be a key step in the state government’s response to the defections, with the party seeking constitutional intervention and outlining its position on the political developments.
