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Chandigarh: Tensions flared in Punjab’s political landscape on Saturday as workers of the Aam Aadmi Party staged protests outside the residence of Rajya Sabha MP and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh in Jalandhar and the campus of Lovely Professional University run by MP Ashok Mittal. The demonstrations came a day after both leaders, along with five other MPs, quit AAP to join the BJP.

Street Anger Spills Over: ‘Bhajji BJP ch bhaj gya’

Outside Harbhajan Singh’s residence in the Chhoti Baradari locality, protestors—led by Jalandhar Mayor Vaneet Dhir and party leader Nitin Kohli—raised sharp slogans, accusing the leaders of betrayal.

Placards branding the defectors as “traitors” were displayed, while the word ‘gaddar’ was scribbled outside the cricketer-turned-politician’s residence. Protestors shouted, “Bhajji BJP ch bhaj gya” and accused the leaders of “stabbing the party in the back,” reflecting the depth of anger within the party’s grassroots ranks.

Police Deployment Amid Escalating Protests

Heavy police deployment was witnessed at both locations to prevent any escalation, as demonstrators continued to raise slogans against the defectors. The protests, though controlled, underscored the volatile mood within AAP following the sudden political shift of its Rajya Sabha MPs.

From Pride to Political Fallout

AAP workers expressed disappointment, especially with Harbhajan Singh, who has long been a symbol of pride in Punjab due to his cricketing legacy. Protestors said the party had given him “respect and a platform,” but alleged that he had abandoned the party at a critical time.

The demonstrations highlight that the recent exodus of MPs is not just a leadership-level crisis but is now triggering visible resentment at the grassroots, potentially shaping the political narrative in Punjab in the months ahead.