Double Blow to AAP: Party’s only MP Sushil Kumar Rinku with MLA Sheetal Angural Join BJP after Kejriwal’s arrest

In a significant political development, two prominent leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, Sushil Kumar Rinku and Sheetal Angural, announced their departure from the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move came to light on Wednesday, March 27, as the leaders were formally inducted into the BJP during a ceremony held in New Delhi.

Sushil Kumar Rinku, who previously served as the AAP Member of Parliament representing Jalandhar, and Sheetal Angural, who held the position of AAP MLA from the Jalandhar West assembly constituency, were welcomed into the BJP fold with a certificate of primary membership. The event witnessed the presence of state party President Sunil Jakhar and BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde.

Sources within the BJP hinted at potential electoral plans, suggesting that both Rinku and Angural might be nominated as candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It is speculated that Sheetal Angural could contest from Jalandhar, while Sushil Rinku might be fielded from Hoshiarpur.

The defection of Rinku and Angural marks a significant setback for AAP, particularly in Punjab, where Rinku emerged victorious in the 2023 by-polls, securing the Jalandhar seat with a substantial lead of 58,691 votes. His success positioned him as the sole AAP representative in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

Rinku’s political journey saw a transition from the Congress to the AAP in April of the previous year. His swift rise within the AAP ranks culminated in his nomination as the party’s candidate for the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency.

The political landscape in Punjab witnessed further upheaval as the BJP announced the induction of Ravneet Singh Bittu, a Lok Sabha MP from Ludhiana and the grandson of former Punjab CM Beant Singh. Bittu’s past electoral successes, notably his victory in the Anandpur Sahib constituency during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, add substantial weight to the BJP’s strategic manoeuvres.

In a related development, state BJP President Sunil Jakhar quashed speculations of a potential alliance between BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), affirming BJP’s intention to contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab independently. This declaration underscores the BJP’s commitment to chart its course in the upcoming electoral battle, signalling a decisive shift in Punjab’s political dynamics.