Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who recently switched from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the BJP along with six other AAP MPs, is at risk of arrest as two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against him in Punjab. The FIRs, related to serious offenses, have been lodged in two districts, and authorities may take action soon. Further details are awaited.
The registration of these FIRs follows the decision of seven AAP Rajya Sabha members, including Sandeep Pathak, to leave the AAP and join the BJP. Notably, six of these MPs represent Punjab in the Upper House. Due to the mass defection of two-thirds of the AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, they are unlikely to face disqualification under the anti-defection law.
After the defection of the Rajya Sabha MPs, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann successfully won a confidence vote in a special one-day Assembly session, demonstrating that attempts to destabilize the government have been unsuccessful. Mann emphasized that the AAP’s support base remains strong and expressed confidence in a larger mandate in the future.
Positioning the AAP as a resilient national entity, Chief Minister Mann highlighted that the party’s foundation is built on unbreakable public trust. He cautioned against the misuse of institutions like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which he believes undermines the principles of the Constitution.
During the confidence vote proceedings, 88 AAP MLAs were present in the House, showcasing unity and strength within the AAP government. The motion received unanimous support, reinforcing the stability of the government. Chief Minister Mann announced plans to meet President Droupadi Murmu on May 5 to address what he termed as the “illegal” and “unlawful defection” of the seven Rajya Sabha MPs, labeling them as betrayers of Punjab and its people.
