From Maisarkhana to Raman Arora: AAP’s Punjab MLAs Face Growing Political Challenges

The suspension of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Sukhvir Singh Maisarkhana from the Maur Assembly constituency in Bathinda has triggered fresh discussion among ruling party legislators over internal differences and party discipline ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Maisarkhana was suspended by the AAP over alleged anti-party activities after he questioned the state government’s claims regarding an education revolution in Punjab’s government schools. He had raised concerns on social media about a shortage of teachers and the lack of renovation in schools.The action against Maisarkhana has once again brought attention to the challenges faced by the AAP in managing differences among its legislators. The party had earlier suspended Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh.
Vijay Pratap Singh was suspended from the party in June 2025 after repeatedly questioning the government over the handling of the 2015 sacrilege cases and the lack of action against a senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader. He was also suspended after raising objections to the arrest of SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. The AAP suspended him for five years over what it termed anti-party activities.
The party has also already decided not to field several sitting MLAs in the 2027 Assembly elections, according to the report. In their places, new faces have been appointed as constituency in-charges.
Sanour MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra had questioned the government’s functioning over flood prevention and relief operations. The party subsequently did not back him politically, while he is also facing legal proceedings in a separate matter.
The AAP has faced other setbacks involving its legislators in recent years. In March 2024, Jalandhar West MLA Sheetal Angural and Jalandhar MP Sushil Kumar Rinku joined the BJP. Angural resigned as an MLA, and his resignation was accepted by the Punjab Assembly Speaker, leading to a by-election in the constituency.
Rinku had joined the AAP after leaving the Congress in 2023 and won the Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-election on an AAP ticket. The party later named him its candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but he subsequently joined the BJP along with Angural.
Another AAP legislator from Jalandhar, Raman Arora, was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in May 2025 in a corruption case. He represented the Jalandhar Central constituency. Following his arrest, the party appointed Nitin Kohli as the new constituency in-charge.
Similarly, Bathinda Rural MLA Amit Rattan Kotfatta was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in February 2023 in a bribery case. His arrest followed the arrest of his alleged aide Rashim Garg, who had been caught accepting a bribe. The party subsequently appointed a new constituency in-charge in the area.
These developments have added to the discussion within the party over how the AAP will manage its legislators and maintain organisational cohesion as the 2027 Assembly elections approach.
‘Anti-party activities will not be tolerated’: AAP
AAP Punjab general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat said the party would not tolerate anti-party activities. He said leaders should raise any concerns within the party first.
AAP spokesperson Neel Garg alleged that Maisarkhana had made false statements against the party. Responding to his comments about a government school, Garg said there was no shortage of facilities at the school referred to by the MLA.
The developments have once again put the focus on internal differences within the ruling party and the disciplinary action being taken against legislators who publicly question the government or party leadership.