Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann meets President Murmu, seeks cancellation of membership of 6 Rajya Sabha members
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Droupadi Murmu urging the cancellation of the Rajya Sabha membership of six MPs from Punjab who recently defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
During the meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mann submitted a memorandum signed by party MLAs, raising concerns over the defection of Aam Aadmi Party leaders to the BJP. He described the development as a violation of constitutional principles and called for immediate action.
The controversy follows the exit of seven out of ten AAP Rajya Sabha MPs — including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney, and Swati Maliwal — who resigned from the party and merged with the BJP, citing ideological differences.
Mann questioned how the BJP, with limited representation in the Punjab Assembly, now holds multiple Rajya Sabha seats from the state, calling it a “mockery of democracy.” He argued that the MPs were “selected” by elected MLAs and should therefore be disqualified if they switch parties without resigning.
The Chief Minister also pushed for a constitutional “Right to Recall” mechanism, allowing voters to remove elected representatives before the end of their term if they fail to perform or breach public trust.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Mann said the President assured him that the matter would be examined in consultation with constitutional experts.
He further criticised the Centre, alleging misuse of central agencies and claiming that leaders joining the BJP receive protection from legal action. Mann asserted that such practices would not be tolerated in Punjab and warned that any wrongdoing would still face legal consequences.
The Chief Minister also dismissed claims of BJP expansion in Punjab following its electoral gains elsewhere, stating that the state’s political landscape remains distinct and resilient.
