Arvind Kejriwal is set to meet Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, state ministers and party MLSs in Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting comes amid the AAP’s defeat in the Delhi Assembly Elections and growing speculation about internal dispute in the party’s Punjab unit.
However, AAP MP Mavinder Signh Kang denounced the reports of dissent and termed Tuesday’s meeting a “routine strategy session”.
“A party is a continuous process. Feedback from all units is taken to shape its future strategies. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with AAP MLAs will meet Arvind Kejriwal to discuss the way forward,” he said.
According to party sources, the upcoming meeting will focus on analyzing the results of the Delhi elections and planning for the Punjab polls scheduled in 2027.
AAP, which had been in power in Delhi for a decade, suffered a major setback in the February 5 elections, winning only 22 seats out of 70. The BJP, with 48 seats, ended AAP’s rule in Delhi, sparking concerns about the party’s chances in other elections.
The meeting is particularly important due to reports of dissatisfaction within AAP’s Punjab unit. Some MLAs are reportedly unhappy with the party’s leadership and may be considering other options. AAP had a huge win in Punjab in 2022, securing 92 of the 117 seats. However, recent events have raised concerns about the party’s internal unity, with some suggesting that the Delhi leadership has too much control over Punjab’s governance.
There is also speculation that Arvind Kejriwal might take a more active role in Punjab politics. With the Ludhiana assembly seat vacant, observers are discussing the possibility of Kejriwal contesting from there and joining the Punjab government.
The AAP chief lost the assembly election to BJP’s Parvesh Verma from New Delhi. The defeat in Delhi is a significant blow for the party, with some opposition leaders predicting that the same could happen in Punjab, especially after AAP’s poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where only three of its 13 nominees won.
With Punjab being the only state where AAP is in power, the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting could play a crucial role in determining the party’s future stability and direction.
(With PTI Inputs)