Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann (AAP) met President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday to demand the disqualification of Rajya Sabha MPs who defected to the BJP [1, 2].
The meeting highlights a growing conflict over political defections in India, where the AAP is challenging the legality of lawmakers switching parties without losing their seats.
Mann traveled to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi accompanied by 90 AAP MLAs [3]. During the visit, he said the lawmakers who left the Aam Aadmi Party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party undermine democratic principles [1, 4].
Reports on the exact number of defecting lawmakers vary. One source cited six Rajya Sabha MPs [1], while another report stated seven lawmakers have switched parties [2].
Mann said that MPs cannot use a party merger as a security cover to avoid disqualification [4]. He urged the president to recall the defected members to maintain the integrity of the legislative process.
The chief minister's decision to bring a large delegation of state legislators to the capital underscores the party's intent to present a unified front against the departures. The move signals a strategic escalation by the AAP to pressure the presidency and the election commission to act on anti-defection norms.
“Mann said that defection undermines democratic principles.”
This confrontation centers on the interpretation of India's anti-defection laws. By challenging the 'merger' loophole, Mann is attempting to set a precedent that prevents lawmakers from switching parties while retaining their seats, which could impact future political stability and coalition dynamics in the Rajya Sabha.
