AAP to Seek Disqualification of Two Punjab MLAs After They Resign from Party
The Aam Aadmi Party has announced that it will approach the Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly seeking the disqualification of two of its legislators, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Chetan Singh Jouramajra, following their resignations from the party. The development has intensified political activity within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
According to the AAP, both legislators had already been suspended from the party over alleged anti-party activities. Their decision to resign from the party's primary membership came after the suspension. The party has now indicated that it will seek action through the Punjab Assembly Speaker, which could affect their positions as elected legislators.
Pathanmajra represents the Sanaur Assembly constituency, while Jouramajra represents Samana in Patiala district. Both leaders announced their decision to leave the AAP on Sunday, November 1, shortly after the party released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Resignations Follow AAP's First Candidate List
The resignations came a day after the Aam Aadmi Party announced its first list of candidates for the next Punjab Assembly elections. The list included 40 constituencies, but neither Sanaur nor Samana was included.
The announcement prompted fresh attention to the political positions of the two sitting MLAs. Their constituencies were not covered in the first list, although the party had not formally announced candidates for either seat at that stage.
Both legislators subsequently confirmed that they had resigned from the party. Jouramajra, a former minister in the Bhagwant Mann government, announced his decision publicly. Pathanmajra also confirmed his exit and communicated his resignation to the party leadership.
The timing of the resignations has raised questions about internal differences within the Punjab AAP unit and the party's preparations for the 2027 elections. However, the absence of their constituencies from the first candidate list does not, by itself, establish the reason for their departures.
AAP Plans to Approach Punjab Assembly Speaker
Following the resignations, the AAP said it would approach the Punjab Assembly Speaker seeking action against the two legislators. The party's position is that both MLAs had been suspended for alleged anti-party activities before they resigned from its primary membership.
The proposed move brings the matter into the legislative process. Under the anti-defection provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, an elected legislator can face disqualification in certain circumstances, including voluntarily giving up membership of the political party on whose ticket the legislator was elected.
However, disqualification is not automatic merely because a political party announces that it will seek action. The matter has to be considered by the competent authority under the applicable constitutional provisions. The Punjab Assembly Speaker will have to examine any petition and the relevant facts before reaching a decision.
The AAP's proposed approach is therefore a request for formal action rather than confirmation that the two legislators have already lost their Assembly seats. Until a decision is made through the prescribed process, their legislative status remains a separate matter from their party membership.
Jouramajra Raises Questions Over Government Performance
Before announcing his resignation, Chetan Singh Jouramajra criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led government over several issues. Speaking to the media in Chandigarh on Sunday, he questioned the government's handling of the drug problem in Punjab.
He also referred to the cases of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was killed in Mansa, and Dalit man Gulzar Singh, who died by suicide in Sangrur. Jouramajra raised these incidents while questioning the government's response to issues affecting people in the state.
The former minister also criticised the government over its promise to provide minimum support price for crops. In addition, he raised concerns about teacher shortages in government schools.
His comments reflected his dissatisfaction with the government's performance on issues including drug control, farmers' concerns and education. These statements have added to the political debate surrounding his departure from the ruling party.
Pathanmajra Criticises Party Leadership
Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra also raised serious concerns about the functioning of the Punjab government. He accused AAP leaders from Delhi of exercising excessive control over the state administration.
Pathanmajra claimed that Punjab ministers did not have sufficient authority to independently approve even a single government file. His remarks questioned the decision-making structure within the state government and the role of the party's central leadership.
These allegations have brought renewed attention to the relationship between the AAP's national leadership and its Punjab unit. Pathanmajra's criticism also reflects the differences that have emerged between the legislator and the party leadership.
The allegations about administrative control represent Pathanmajra's claims and have not been independently established by the information available in the report.
Political Developments Ahead of the 2027 Elections
The resignations come at a time when political parties in Punjab are beginning preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections. The AAP's announcement of its first 40 candidates marks an early step in its electoral planning.
The departures of two sitting legislators have brought attention to internal organisational issues and candidate selection. The party will now have to address the political consequences of their resignations while continuing its preparations for the elections.
The developments also highlight the importance of local leadership and constituency-level organisation in Punjab politics. Decisions about candidates, party responsibilities and government performance can influence relationships between elected representatives and party leadership.
For the AAP, the immediate issue is its proposed petition before the Assembly Speaker. For Pathanmajra and Jouramajra, their exit from the party has opened a new phase in their political careers.
The final decision on their Assembly membership will depend on the formal proceedings and the applicable constitutional provisions. The controversy is expected to remain part of the political discussion in Punjab as parties prepare for the 2027 elections.
