In an interview with The Indian Express, Malwinder Singh Kang, the chief spokesperson for the Aam Aadmi Party and Member of Parliament from Anandpur Sahib, stated that the party had granted excessive authority to Raghav Chadha in Punjab while overlooking Sandeep Pathak for more than a year. This occurred as Chadha, Pathak, and five other Rajya Sabha members switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Kang urged for enhanced coordination between the party leadership and its legislators, ministers, and parliamentarians.
When asked about the reasons for the seven AAP Rajya Sabha members’ defection to the BJP, Kang explained that the party should have nominated loyal internal members for Rajya Sabha seats, those who remained steadfast regardless of election outcomes. He accused the BJP of employing various tactics, including ‘Operation Lotus,’ to fracture opposition parties.
Regarding reports that 35 AAP legislators in Punjab might be in contact with the BJP, Kang noted that such possibilities cannot be dismissed given the BJP’s strategies and use of agencies. He emphasized the need for greater vigilance and better communication with legislators by the party leadership.
On the potential impact of these defections on the upcoming Punjab elections next year, Kang observed that Punjab voters typically reject betrayals. He added that the AAP must implement organizational reforms, including improved dialogue with elected representatives. He mentioned that Pathak had confided in him about not being contacted by the party for a year, suggesting that maintaining contact might have prevented his departure.
Kang agreed that assigning significant power to Chadha in Punjab and to Pathak during the 2024 parliamentary elections had negative consequences. He criticized the elevation of Chadha, noting his interference in the chief minister’s decisions and lack of political experience, and said the party should have monitored him more closely.
Kang clarified that the coordination issues stem from the party’s internal culture, not from administrative or bureaucratic structures, and called for improvements in the organization’s practices.
