A former IPS officer turned politician, Singh had increasingly found himself at odds with his own party’s government in Punjab, often voicing sharp criticism on key issues.
THE NEWS DOSE DESK
Chandigarh,June 29, UPDATED: 12:30 PM
In a major internal shake-up, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suspended its sitting MLA from Amritsar North, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, for five years. A former IPS officer turned politician, Singh had increasingly found himself at odds with his own party’s government in Punjab, often voicing sharp criticism on key issues.
The suspension, reportedly approved during a recent meeting of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee, comes in the wake of Singh’s public statements questioning the recent arrest of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. Party sources cited “anti-party activities” as the reason for the disciplinary action.
Tensions Over Majithia Arrest
Kunwar Vijay Pratap had openly challenged the manner in which Majithia was taken into custody last week from his Amritsar residence, terming the arrest “unethical”. He also raised concerns over the legal process followed by the state agencies. Drawing from his own experience investigating drug-related cases during his tenure as a top police officer, he accused the police of previously shielding Majithia and facilitating his bail.
Although Singh stressed that he had ideological differences with Majithia, he said his objections were rooted in concerns over procedural integrity and ethical governance, rather than political alignment. “This is not about politics. It is about the rule of law. If the state machinery is misused for vendetta, we must speak up,” he had said in a recent statement.
Vocal Dissent on Sacrilege and Liquor Mafia
This is not the first time Singh has openly criticised the AAP government in Punjab. Over the past year, he had repeatedly voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the sensitive sacrilege cases that rocked Punjab between 2015 and 2017. Singh had headed the SIT probing these cases during his tenure as a police officer and has consistently advocated for faster and more transparent justice.
More recently, following the hooch tragedy in Amritsar earlier this year — in which 27 people died after consuming spurious liquor laced with methanol — Singh accused sections of the AAP leadership of colluding with the liquor mafia. His explosive claims, though not formally investigated, caused considerable embarrassment to the party.
Additionally, Singh had distanced himself from internal party activities, skipping multiple party meetings in recent months, which has fueled speculation about a growing rift with the leadership.
Party Stands Firm
Defending the decision to suspend Singh, a senior AAP leader said: “Questioning the action of the Vigilance Bureau against a known drug accused like Majithia sends the wrong message. Our anti-drug campaign is non-negotiable. Anyone obstructing that, directly or indirectly, cannot continue in the party.”
The leadership’s swift action appears aimed at reinforcing party discipline and sending a clear signal ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls, especially as the AAP battles both perception and performance issues amid internal criticism and opposition attacks.
Reactions from the Opposition
Reacting to the development, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira — himself a former AAP member — lashed out at the party. “This proves what we’ve always said: there is no space for dissent or honest voices in AAP. Kunwar Vijay Pratap is a man of integrity. He’s being punished for speaking the truth,” Khaira said.
Khaira, who had won on an AAP ticket in 2017 before parting ways over ideological differences, said the party was increasingly exhibiting the same high-handedness it once claimed to oppose.
What Will be the Singh’s Next Move?
While Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh has yet to announce his next political move, his suspension is likely to trigger further debate within Punjab’s political circles. Given his strong following in Amritsar and clean image as a crusader against drugs and corruption, speculation is rife that he could either float a new platform or align with another party ahead of the next election.
