CHANDIGARH, APRIL 27 — Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal has revealed that he was approached by Vikramjit Singh Sahney to participate in a new independent group just as seven other party members were transitioning to the BJP. Seechewal stated that Sahney called him on Friday to claim that others had already agreed to the arrangement and encouraged him to follow suit.
“I did not want to be part of any such group,” Seechewal declared, affirming that he has no intention of betraying the mandate given to him by the party. He maintained that his colleagues’ decision to join the BJP was a disappointment, stating that it is wrong to abandon the organization that facilitated their entry into the upper house.
The environmentalist-turned-politician stated that the loss of Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak was especially noteworthy given their high-ranking status in the party. Seechewal affirmed that both individuals enjoyed immense authority in Punjab, with Chadha operating from a prominent Chandigarh residence and Pathak managing party affairs across the state. He declared that their exit is difficult to justify given the levels of support they received from the AAP leadership.
Regarding the political future of the party in Punjab, Seechewal maintained that the exit of nominated members would not lead to a collapse. He stated that the party remains grounded and that legal experts should handle the complexities of the defection and the Chief Minister’s request for presidential intervention. Seechewal affirmed that he remains the sole AAP Rajya Sabha representative from Punjab currently serving in the house.
