Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring asserted that the defection of seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of Parliament to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not affect anyone in Punjab, as these MPs are rootless and lack any political base in the state.
No Ideological Commitment in AAP
Warring emphasized that the AAP is devoid of any ideology, and its legislators and parliamentarians have no ideological commitments. Therefore, their move to join the BJP is not surprising. He warned that today it is just seven MPs, but tomorrow it could be 50 legislators who may desert the party.
Rajya Sabha Tickets for Businessmen
Regarding Rajya Sabha members, Warring pointed out that tickets were mainly given to big industrialists and businessmen who supported the AAP in various ways. Their defection to the BJP should not have surprised the party, as they were never ideologically committed and joined purely for business interests. Citing the example of Ashok Mittal, who recently faced Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids, Warring noted that joining the BJP is a common trend to avoid inquiries or investigations.
Comparison with Congress
The PCC president highlighted that while AAP chose moneybags who eventually deserted it, the Congress has always prioritized party workers. He cited recent nominations from Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, where the party fielded a district president and a trade union leader, respectively, ensuring their victories. He also mentioned former Chhattisgarh chief minister and general secretary in-charge Punjab, Bhupesh Bhagel, who, despite harassment and his son's imprisonment, remained committed to the Congress ideology.
