In a significant political development in Punjab, two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators resigned from the party on Sunday, casting a shadow over the organisation's internal stability as it begins preparations for the 2027 state assembly elections. Chetan Singh Jouramajra, the MLA for Samana, and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who represents the Sanour constituency, both submitted their resignations from the party's primary membership. The two departures occurred just one day after the Aam Aadmi Party released its first list of 40 candidates for the upcoming poll cycle.
The announcement of the resignations has drawn attention to the party's electoral strategy, particularly because the candidates for the Samana and Sanour constituencies were notably absent from the initial list of 40 nominees. While the party has yet to formally announce who will contest these seats, the political landscape in Samana has seen recent shifts. In September, the party appointed former Punjab minister Surjit Singh Rakhra as the halqa, or constituency, in-charge for Samana. Although there has been no official declaration, this appointment has led to widespread speculation that Rakhra is being positioned as the party’s primary candidate for the seat in the 2027 elections.
Regarding the resignations, official channels confirmed the sequence of events. Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra reportedly sent his formal resignation letter directly to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Meanwhile, Chetan Singh Jouramajra, who previously served as a minister in the Punjab government, chose to announce his departure from the party through a post on social media. Neither the party leadership nor the resigning MLAs have provided extensive commentary beyond these formal steps, leaving the immediate political future of both individuals uncertain.
The departure of Pathanmajra follows a period of public discord, as the MLA had previously raised questions regarding the functioning of the AAP government in Punjab. Beyond his political activities, Pathanmajra has also been embroiled in significant legal challenges over the past year. In September of last year, a rape case was registered against him following a complaint from a woman residing in Zirakpur. The complainant alleged that Pathanmajra had misrepresented himself as a divorcee before marrying her in 2021, despite having a prior marriage.
The legal proceedings surrounding this case have been complex. In March of this year, the Punjab Police apprehended Pathanmajra in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, following an incident where he allegedly escaped from police custody. He remained under legal scrutiny until May, when the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him regular bail. These legal issues have notably impacted his political standing within the state and the party's broader legislative group.
These developments represent a notable challenge for the Aam Aadmi Party as it attempts to solidify its candidate roster for the 2027 elections. With the party having already commenced its preparatory phase, the loss of two sitting MLAs from the Patiala district highlights internal pressures within the regional unit. The party's focus now remains on managing its constituency in-charges and finalising its remaining nominations, even as the recent resignations spark debate over the impact these exits might have on the party's grassroots support in the region.
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