The North News
New Delhi, April 5
Punjab’s political dispute moved to New Delhi on Tuesday as Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha met President Droupadi Murmu earlier, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann holding a separate meeting later, each presenting a contrasting account of the escalating row. The meetings came days after seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs left the party and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), triggering a confrontation that has now reached the highest constitutional office.
Mann, who met the president at Rashtrapati Bhawan, called for the termination of six Rajya Sabha members who switched allegiance. He argued that these MPs were chosen by elected legislators in Punjab and therefore remained accountable to the mandate of the state’s voters.
“These members were selected by MLAs who themselves were elected by the people,” Mann said, underlining the distinction between direct electoral legitimacy and indirect selection. He also submitted documents signed by AAP legislators, seeking cancellation of the MPs’ memberships. The AAP lawmakers gathered near the presidential residence in a show of support, expressing hope that their appeal would receive due consideration.
Earlier, Chadha had presented a contrasting account. He accused the Punjab government of engaging in “vendetta politics” and misusing state machinery against those who chose to leave the party.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting, Chadha said the delegation had informed the president about what they described as harassment and politically motivated actions following their decision to join the BJP.
“We exercised our constitutional right to disagree and leave,” he said, adding that leaders once seen as loyal were now being labelled negatively after their exit.
Chadha further alleged that former AAP MPs who joined the BJP were facing intimidation and coercive measures from state agencies.
