The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership has called four state ministers to Delhi amid mounting rumors of a Punjabi cabinet upheaval, with possible portfolio changes, sources reported on Saturday.
Punjab ministers Tarunpreet Sondh, Ravjot Singh, Lalchand Kataruchak, and Kuldeep Dhaliwal visited the party headquarters in Delhi, stoking anticipation of an imminent reshuffle. Sources with knowledge of the situation say the action is a reaction to the party’s recent failures, which include losing the Delhi elections, receiving backlash for how it handled the farmers’ demonstrations, and having to fulfill pledges made in the last state elections.
According to reports, the AAP is expected to make changes to its Punjab Cabinet, appointing Satender Jain as co-incharge and Manish Sisodia as the party’s state in-charge. Sanjeev Arora, a contender in the Ludhiana by-election and Rajya Sabha MP, is also being discussed for the position of state minister.
According to insiders, discussions might also center on the potential dismissal of three or four ministers to make room for new members of the Cabinet. With Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur emerging as a formidable contender, there is a lot of speculation that the reshuffle may also include the nomination of a new speaker for the Vidhan Sabha. Kultar Sandhwa, the current Speaker, might be appointed to the Cabinet in the interim.
It is believed that the planned rearrangement is an attempt by the AAP to strengthen its hold on Punjab in anticipation of next elections, such as the 2027 Assembly elections. A party spokesman, however, denied the rumors.
“The Assembly session is now in session, thus these are merely rumors. Such adjustments are not planned. Ayushi Saraswat, the media manager for the Punjab government, stated that the ministers might be in Delhi for structural talks and internal party meetings. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the AAP secured 92 of 117 seats, a resounding victory.
