Raghav Chadha Alleges ‘Vendetta’ After AAP Turncoats Join BJP 

Chadha claims he is the “next target” as Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann meets President Murmu, demanding disqualification of seven rebel Rajya Sabha MPs.

A day after seven Aam Aadmi Party MPs formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha has alleged a campaign of political retribution from the Punjab government, claiming he is now in their crosshairs.

‘I am their next target’

Addressing reporters after a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, Chadha accused the Bhagwant Mann-led dispensation of weaponising state agencies to settle scores.

“They have started a dangerous game of revenge with the help of agencies such as the Vigilance Board and the Pollution Board. According to sources, I will be their next target,” Chadha said. He added that threats were being circulated through official state resources on social media, an allegation the Punjab government has not yet responded to.

The clearest sign of escalating tension came when both Chadha and rebel MP Sandeep Pathak met the President in the morning, followed hours later by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann seeking the exact opposite—action against the very same leaders.

Mann seeks disqualification

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, who also met President Murmu later in the day, demanded the immediate cancellation of the rebel MPs’ membership.

“The way the Constitution was violated when seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs claimed they were a different party and merged with the BJP is unconstitutional. We demanded the cancellation of their membership. If the Central government misuses its power in Punjab, we will take action,” Mann told reporters.

Several AAP MLAs from Punjab have travelled to New Delhi in a show of strength, signalling that the party intends to fight the defections legally and politically.

‘Fake FIRs and intimidation’

Chadha alleged that the pressure was not just political but bureaucratic. He claimed that industrialist Rajinder Gupta’s factory had faced punitive action, including having its water supply disconnected, and that former AAP leaders were being hit with fabricated cases.

“We made the President aware of the misuse of Punjab’s state machinery. She has assured us of protection and of upholding the Constitution,” Chadha said.

Sandeep Pathak echoed similar concerns. “We exercised our constitutional right to leave the party. Now, fake FIRs are being filed to threaten us. We are not scared and will fight this legally,” Pathak said, referring to cases he claims were registered by Punjab Police.

A warning to officials

In a remark that drew sharp reactions, Chadha issued a pointed warning to state bureaucrats. “I want to tell Punjab government officers to be cautious, as the present government has only a few years remaining.”

He further alleged that AAP workers, possibly with police help, vandalised former cricketer Harbhajan Singh’s residence by scrawling “deshdrohi” (traitor) outside his home. The cricketer has not yet commented on the incident.

Punjab Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO dismissed the political crossovers as “undemocratic,” adding that the manner in which the seven MPs switched sides was a betrayal of the mandate.

With both sides now taking their battle to the President’s door, the coming days could see legal petitions and potential disqualification proceedings. For now, the political corridor in Delhi is watching how the Rashtrapati Bhavan responds to two opposing demands from the same state.

Bengal & Assam Trends Boost BJP, Chhattisgarh Celebrates 

Early election leads show BJP heading for majority in West Bengal and Assam; Chhattisgarh workers celebrate with ‘Jhalmuri’ parties as MP says TMC uprooted.

Early election trends from West Bengal and Assam brought spontaneous celebrations to BJP offices in Chhattisgarh on Monday afternoon. With the party appearing to cross the majority mark in both states, workers in Raipur, Bilaspur, and Ambikapur burst crackers, danced to drumbeats, and distributed Bengal’s famous street snack, jhalmuri.

The mood was not just festive but defiant. At the party’s Ekant Parisar office in the capital, slogans like “Jhalmuri, Mamata uri” (Mamata flies away) echoed through the corridors.

A snack as a symbol

It wasn't just about the wins. The choice of snack mattered. Jhalmuri, a puffed rice delicacy synonymous with Bengal’s street food culture, became the unlikely hero of the day.

In Bilaspur, workers set up a special jhalmuri stall outside the office of local MLA Sushant Shukla. “We’ve already sold over 200 plates,” a vendor near the Raipur office said, struggling to keep up with demand. Party leaders, including state president Kiran Dev, were seen feeding the snack to workers. Dev later told reporters, “This is the result of our workers' hard work. Mamata has gone; now equality has come to Bengal. We will regroup for a wonderful Assam.”

‘TMC uprooted,’ say leaders

The celebratory language was sharp. Rajya Sabha MP Laxmi Verma, standing with Raipur Mayor Minal Choubey, did not hold back. “We have uprooted TMC completely. This is a victory for Sanatan,” Verma said, drawing cheers from a crowd that had gathered despite the afternoon heat.

Mayor Manjusha Bhagat in Ambikapur echoed the sentiment, claiming that “TMC’s goonda raj is over.” The remarks reflected the party’s campaign pitch that framed the Bengal election as a battle between “development and anarchy.”

Ground-level cues from the campaign trail

For some leaders present in Raipur, the trends felt personal. Prafull Vishwakarma, who campaigned in Bengal’s Pandeshwar constituency, described the ground situation as a “barrel of gunpowder.”

“We could not step out after sunset. Local people were terrified of revealing their identity. We had to meet them without showing who we were for two and a half months,” Vishwakarma said. He claimed the public had voted for “change of power” against a climate of fear and booth-capturing.

BJP leader Mrityunjay Dubey, who also campaigned in the state, added that people chose development over fear. “PM Modi and Amit Shah guaranteed safety and jobs. The public responded,” he said.

Chief Minister’s take

From Balrampur, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the trends indicated a “liberation” for people from West Bengal’s “authoritarian government.” He also confirmed that a clear BJP comeback was underway in Assam.

Meanwhile, in Bhilai and Raigarh, workers set off firecrackers and distributed sweets. In Ambikapur, the local mayor was seen dancing openly with party flags — a visual that quickly spread through worker networks.

What’s next

While officials cautioned that these are early trends and not final results, the energy across Chhattisgarh’s BJP circles suggested a strong sense of closure. For a party that has long struggled to break into Bengal’s polarised politics, the prospect of a majority is being treated as a historic shift.

“This is the same Bengal where Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee founded the Jan Sangh,” said leader Deepak Ujjwal. “Today, his ideology is forming a government.”

Counting is still underway. But for now, in Raipur, the drums haven’t stopped.