Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a move that has shaken Punjab’s political corridors, Janata Party’s national president Navneet Chaturvedi on Tuesday filed his nomination as an Independent candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections at the Punjab Assembly Secretariat.
What has truly rattled the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is Chaturvedi’s explosive claim that 10 AAP MLAs have pledged their support to him and more than 60 are in touch with him. This revelation has sparked intense political drama and raised serious questions about internal dissent and cracks within AAP’s Punjab unit.
Chaturvedi, a Rajasthan-based political thinker and author of the widely read 2020 book “Geopolitics,” told reporters that his candidature is backed by 10 AAP MLAs and several opposition members.
“I have signatures from ten MLAs who believe in me. The rest will be revealed on the 24th, the day of voting. I’m confident of getting around sixty votes,” he said confidently.
The statement comes as a major embarrassment for AAP, which holds a clear majority of 92 out of 117 seats in the Punjab Assembly. His claim implies that a section of AAP’s own legislators are not supporting the party’s official Rajya Sabha candidate, Rajinder Gupta, who was chosen by the party high command.
Political observers view Chaturvedi’s move as a direct challenge to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership and to Arvind Kejriwal’s control over the Punjab unit. Internal sources reveal that AAP’s top brass has already begun verifying the authenticity of the signatures on Chaturvedi’s nomination papers.
When asked why AAP MLAs would risk defying their leadership, Chaturvedi said, “During AAP’s early days, there were people like Prashant Bhushan, Kumar Vishwas, and Lokendra Jadhav, but Kejriwal sidelined them. These MLAs also feel betrayed. They want honest politics, not diktats from Delhi.”
He further suggested that discontent among AAP MLAs has been brewing for months, claiming that many felt ignored after the party’s massive 2022 victory. “The truth is, not all 92 MLAs are with AAP anymore — neither the Cabinet nor the legislators stand united behind Rajinder Gupta,” he said, delivering a sharp attack on the ruling party.
The independent candidate stressed that AAP MLAs privately appreciate his vision, adding that he has friends across all political parties. He accused AAP’s leadership of being “out of touch with ground realities” and of “governing Punjab through remote control from Delhi.”
When asked if his nomination might be rejected, Chaturvedi asserted, “My nomination follows every rule. The election will happen — and the result will speak for itself. I fear no scrutiny.”
For the first time since 2022, Punjab may witness a contested Rajya Sabha election, as previous candidates had been elected unopposed. Political insiders say that if Chaturvedi’s claims of MLA support turn out to be true, it could shake AAP’s majority and signal the beginning of an internal rebellion.
Meanwhile, Chaturvedi revealed plans to submit one or two more sets of nomination papers, indicating that his campaign is not merely symbolic.
“The government knows who supports me, but I will not name them — I respect their privacy. Those who trust me will speak through their votes,” he said.
All eyes are now on October 24, when the voting will determine whether Chaturvedi’s claims are mere political theatrics or a genuine revolt within AAP.
