CHANDIGARH, MAY 20 — The Aam Aadmi Party expanded its political footprint on Tuesday as a wave of key leaders and workers from both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal severed ties with their traditional parties to align with the ruling administration.
The political shift follows widespread public and cross-party traction for the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Bill 2026. Introduced by the Bhagwant Mann government, the bill seeks to curb sacrilege incidents involving the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji through strict punitive measures against convicted individuals.
Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister, formally inducted the new members during a gathering where he pledged full integration and institutional backing for the incoming workforce.
“The Aam Aadmi Party guarantees that all leaders and workers who have taken this step will be accorded full respect and proper recognition within the organizational hierarchy,” Ghuman noted.
The defecting politicians maintained that the decision to switch allegiances was driven by the government’s decisive legislative approach to a long-standing religious grievance, contrasting it with the perceived inaction of past regimes.
“The introduction of this strict law proves the government’s commitment to protecting our core values,” the leaders asserted. “It creates a real deterrent against anti-social elements who aim to disrupt our peace, whereas earlier governments treated sacrilege as a mere tool for political leverage.”
The influx of new members features several veteran organizers, including former Punjab Congress Women President Kitu Grewal, former PUNGRAIN Chairman Satpal Singh, and Punjab Congress General Secretary Kamaldeep Singh Rana Warka.
The shift also drew regional leaders, including Samandeep Kaur, president of the Congress women’s cell in Malout, and Hardev Singh, the former Attari B.C. Wing in-charge and Block Samiti chairman. Additional inductees include Block Samiti Member Charanjeet Kaur, Zila Parishad Talwandi Sabo candidate Gurmel Singh, former General Secretary Jaskaran Singh Jathwal, and former Beas-area Sarpanch Surjit Singh.
