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Chandigarh, July 20,UPDATED:4.25PM 
A day after announcing her exit from politics, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Maan has been persuaded to stay on, with the party officially rejecting her resignation. The decision was conveyed to her on Sunday by AAP Punjab president Aman Arora, who met her in what he described as a “family atmosphere.”

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Arora wrote in Punjabi, “Today, I met Anmol Gagan Maan in a family-like setting. The party has decided to reject her resignation as MLA, and she has accepted this decision. We asked her to continue working for the progress of the party and her constituency. Anmol was, is, and will remain part of the @ArvindKejriwal ji and @AamAadmiParty family.”

The move comes a day after the 36-year-old singer-turned-politician publicly declared her decision to quit politics. In a heartfelt post on X on Saturday, Maan had written, “With a heavy heart, I have decided to quit politics. My resignation from the post of MLA, submitted to the Speaker, may be accepted. My best wishes are with the party. I am hopeful that the Punjab Government will live up to the expectations of the people.”

While the exact reasons for her resignation remain unclear, sources indicate that internal differences and dissatisfaction over her role in the party may have contributed to her decision. Maan had reportedly submitted her resignation letter to the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly earlier this week.

Party Shows Confidence

By refusing to accept her resignation, the AAP leadership has signaled its continued confidence in Maan and appears keen to keep her within the fold amid reports of dissent among younger leaders in Punjab. Arora’s statement frames the decision as a collective move to retain unity and focus on public welfare.

While Maan has yet to issue a fresh public statement following the party’s decision, her acceptance of the move suggests that she will remain politically active, at least for the foreseeable future.

Observers say the episode reflects both the internal churn within AAP’s Punjab unit and the party’s efforts to manage optics and cohesion ahead of key local and national political events.

From Melody to Ministry

Anmol Gagan Maan, who hails from the Mansa district, rose to fame as a Punjabi folk singer before making her political debut in 2020 by joining the Aam Aadmi Party. Known for her strong oratory and mass connect, she quickly emerged as one of the prominent young faces of the party.

She was inducted into the Bhagwant Mann-led Cabinet in July 2022 as the Minister for Tourism and Investment Promotion. However, her tenure in the cabinet was short-lived. She was asked to step down in September 2023, following a reshuffle that surprised many political observers.

Despite being removed from ministerial responsibilities, Maan continued to remain active in her constituency and within party circles, though signs of disillusionment had begun to surface in recent months.