Punjab politics witnessed another major twist on Monday after Gyan Singh Mann, cousin of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar.
The induction ceremony also saw several other leaders switching sides, including Baljinder Singh Wading and AAP leader Manjinder Singh, adding fresh momentum to the BJP’s expansion efforts in Punjab ahead of intensifying political battles in the state.
The move has sparked widespread political speculation as tensions between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party continue to escalate across Punjab.
The latest development comes at a time when AAP has already been facing major political turbulence following reports of several Rajya Sabha MPs distancing themselves from the party and aligning with the BJP. The reported shift of senior leaders had earlier triggered sharp reactions from the AAP leadership, which accused the BJP of attempting to engineer defections through what it described as “Operation Lotus.”
Political friction between the two parties has intensified further after recent Enforcement Directorate action involving Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora. The issue turned more volatile after clashes reportedly broke out between BJP and AAP workers in Ludhiana during protests linked to the investigation.
The BJP, meanwhile, has been aggressively strengthening its organisational presence in Punjab by bringing leaders from rival parties into its fold.
Political observers believe the entry of Bhagwant Mann’s cousin into the BJP could further sharpen the political narrative in the state, especially as both the BJP and AAP continue attacking each other over allegations of political pressure, defections and misuse of agencies.
Neither Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann nor senior AAP leaders have issued a detailed reaction to Gyan Singh Mann’s move so far.
