Punjab's Political Storm: The Sahney Exit and AAP's Decline

Summary Box: Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a BJP supporter and AAP Rajya Sabha member, has joined the BJP, sparking a political storm in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls. Sahney's exit is linked to the decline of AAP, which has seen its core members, including Raghav Chadha, Pathak, and Maliwal, sidelined.

The recent exit of Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a BJP supporter and AAP Rajya Sabha member, has triggered a political storm in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls. Sahney's decision to join the BJP has raised questions about the future of AAP in the state, which has been facing internal conflicts and declining popularity.

The Decline of AAP

AAP's decline began when three of its core members, Chadha, Pathak, and Maliwal, were sidelined. These individuals were instrumental in AAP's success in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls, where they helped the party secure a thumping majority. However, after AAP's defeat in the 2025 Delhi Assembly polls, Pathak became deeply frustrated, and Chadha's wings were clipped. He was asked to leave Punjab and made chairman of an advisory board that never functioned.

The final blow came when Chadha was stripped of the Deputy Leader's position in the Rajya Sabha. This affected all of the AAP Rajya Sabha members, including Sahney, who questioned the party's future in Punjab. AAP alleges that the seven MPs were poached by the BJP, with central agencies such as the ED being used as pressure tactics. However, Sahney denies this, stating that it began with Chadha, Maliwal, and Pathak deciding to leave due to their issues with the party.

Punjab's Subsidy-Driven Welfare Model

Sahney has often criticized Punjab's subsidy-driven welfare model, which has led to a significant increase in the state's debt. Punjab's debt has already risen to Rs 4.5 lakh crore, and Sahney believes that the state cannot continue to be a "begging bowl." He has proposed a balanced approach, where the state focuses on developing its economy and reducing its dependence on subsidies.

The Future of AAP in Punjab

The exit of Sahney and other AAP Rajya Sabha members has raised questions about the party's future in Punjab. AAP has called the seven Rajya Sabha members who left "gaddar," but Sahney has committed no betrayal of Punjab or Punjabis. He has consistently raised Punjab's rights in Parliament and has issued his own report card as an MP, which shows that he has worked for the state's development.

A World-Class Skill Centre for Punjab's Youth

Sahney's dream is to establish a world-class skill centre for youth in every district of Punjab. He believes that this will help the state's youth acquire skills and become employable, reducing the state's dependence on subsidies. He also wants to make Punjab a drug-free state, which will improve the state's law and order situation.

The International Dimension

The BJP's rise in Punjab has significant implications for the state's politics. The BJP has been trying to expand its base in the state, and Sahney's exit has given it a boost. However, AAP still has a strong presence in the state, and the party's decline is not yet irreversible.

The Way Forward

The future of AAP in Punjab is uncertain, and the party needs to address its internal conflicts and declining popularity. Sahney's exit has raised questions about the party's future, but it also presents an opportunity for the party to reform and regain its popularity. The party needs to focus on developing its economy and reducing its dependence on subsidies, which will improve the state's financial situation.

Category: national Tags: punjab, aap, bjp, sahay, chadha, pathak, maliwal, subsidy-driven welfare model, skill centre, drug-free punjab Source: The Indian Express