Punjab’s AAP government at risk? Congress’s Bajwa claims ‘more than 32’ AAP MLAs in touch, hints at BJP role

Partap Singh Bajwa congress leader

Punjab’s Leader of the Opposition, Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, has claimed that "more than 32" MLAs from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are in contact with him, while suggesting that others may be in touch with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He indicated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government could be on the brink of collapse but asserted that the Congress would not play a role in bringing it down, reported NDTV.

“It is the BJP who will do it,” Bajwa said in an interview with NDTV, maintaining that his party has no plans to destabilize the AAP-led government. “It is not just MLAs; there are ministers and other big leaders. But we have made it very clear that under no circumstances will the Congress bring down this government,” he added.

Bajwa argued that allowing AAP to complete its five-year term would reveal its governance shortcomings. “So the people can see what kind of government they voted for,” he said. He also accused AAP of financial misconduct, alleging that thousands of crores had been funneled to Australia and other states through hawala transactions. “This money came from liquor and Change of Land Use,” he alleged, further criticizing the AAP governance model. “The ‘Delhi model’ is such that it brings experts in looting,” he claimed.

AAP dismissed Bajwa’s allegations, instead accusing him of planning to join the BJP. "Partap Bajwa has already secured his ticket in BJP. He met senior BJP leaders in Bengaluru," AAP leader Neel Garg told NDTV. "Rahul Gandhi should keep an eye on Partap Bajwa," he added.

The Mann government has been under increased opposition pressure following AAP’s electoral loss in Delhi earlier this month. In response, the Punjab government has ramped up its anti-corruption drive—one of its key campaign promises.

Last week, the government dismissed 52 police officers, from constables to inspectors, on corruption charges. Additionally, IPS officer Varinder Kumar, the chief director of the Vigilance Bureau, was removed from his position and directed to report to the police chief. In another move, Sri Muktsar Sahib’s Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Tripathi, a 2016 batch IAS officer, was suspended, with the Vigilance Department launching an inquiry against him.