• Source:JND
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Days after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a massive defeat in Delhi, party convenor Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to meet Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other party legislators in Delhi on Tuesday. This meeting comes after AAP's poor performance in the Delhi Assembly elections, which has led to increasing speculation about internal disagreements within the party’s Punjab unit.

Despite mounting rumours of dissent within the party, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang downplayed the situation, describing the Tuesday meeting as a "routine strategy session." He explained that such meetings are part of an ongoing process to gather feedback and plan future strategies, with discussions likely to centre on the recent Delhi election results and the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections in 2027.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has left for Delhi to meet Kejriwal. Mann was to attend a Cabinet meeting on Monday, however, this meeting was cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday. The Cabinet session, which was to be held after a five-month break due to election campaigns in Delhi and Punjab, will take place later in the week.

The AAP suffered a crushing defeat in Delhi, securing only 22 of the 70 seats in the February 5 elections. The BJP claimed 48 seats, ending the AAP’s decade-long rule in the capital. Following the setback, party insiders have raised concerns about potential attempts to poach the AAP’s Punjab MLAs, especially as speculation grows that some members may be in contact with the BJP.

AAP Punjab President Aman Arora dismissed concerns about the meeting, calling it a routine discussion following the Delhi defeat. "There is no cause for concern. We are united," Arora said, adding that Kejriwal’s address would offer much-needed motivation to party members following the disappointing results.

Sources suggest that Tuesday’s meeting will focus on boosting morale and ensuring that Punjab remains AAP’s stronghold, especially as the BJP continues its efforts to challenge the party in the state. The leadership is also reportedly considering a return to the party’s original focus on common people’s issues, with many members urging Kejriwal to shift back to the "Aam Aadmi" ideology that once earned the party widespread support.

Given Punjab’s importance as AAP’s only remaining state government, the outcome of this meeting will likely play a key role in shaping the party's future strategy and stability.