After Exit, AAP Workers Label Ex-Strategist ‘Traitor’ in Mungeli  

Following Sandeep Pathak’s switch to BJP with six other RS MPs, Chhattisgarh AAP workers protested outside his family home in Lormi, calling the former ‘think tank’ a ‘septic tank’.

Lormi (Mungeli): A political switch that played out in New Delhi sparked an angry, ground-level reaction nearly 1,200 kilometres away in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district on Monday.

Close to a dozen Aam Aadmi Party workers gathered outside the ancestral home of Sandeep Pathak in the Bataha village of Lormi. The protest began shortly after noon, with slogans against the former Rajya Sabha MP who joined the BJP over the weekend.

The most visible act of anger, however, was scrawled on an outer wall of the family property. Using black ink, protesters wrote ‘Gaddar’ (traitor) in Devanagari script. Local police said they are aware of the incident but no formal complaint has been filed yet.

‘Think Tank’ vs ‘Septic Tank’

The protest was more than just an expression of anger. The party’s official X handle posted images from the site, adding a sharp, rhetorical twist.

“Jise ‘Think Tank’ samjha, wo ‘Septic Tank’ nikla,” the post read—a phrase that quickly began circulating on political WhatsApp groups in Raipur.

The choice of words was deliberate. Until last week, Pathak was considered the principal electoral architect behind AAP’s 2022 Punjab victory and the man tasked with expanding the party’s footprint in Chhattisgarh and Gujarat.

A Chhattisgarh Son Who Went National

For AAP workers in Mungeli, the exit is personal. Pathak, born in 1979 to a farmer in Bataha, is a local who made it global—from a village school in Lormi to a PhD from Cambridge.

His political rise was rapid. After joining AAP in 2016, he became the national general secretary and was appointed the party’s in-charge for Chhattisgarh roughly a year ago. His job was to build an organisation from scratch in a state where the BJP and Congress have historically dominated.

“He understood the caste equations of this region. He spoke our language,” said one protester who declined to be named. “That’s why it hurts more.”

Why His Exit Shakes AAP in Chhattisgarh

Pathak wasn’t just another name on the list of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs who defected to the BJP. He was the system-builder.

Sources familiar with the party’s internal workings said Pathak focused heavily on booth-level structures—a tedious but critical element for any election-winning machinery. His departure leaves a vacuum in AAP’s organisational framework in at least three states.

Initial reports from party circles in Raipur suggest that local cadres now feel adrift. The protest in Lormi was as much about public shaming as it was about signalling internal frustration.

What Next for the Local Cadre?

The immediate impact is being felt at the ground level. AAP has a limited but visible presence in parts of Bilaspur and Durg, largely built around youth and disgruntled Congress voters.

With Pathak gone, the party’s stated ambition to contest the next assembly elections in Chhattisgarh appears uncertain. No replacement as state in-charge has been announced yet.

For the workers who gathered in Lormi on Monday afternoon, the immediate task was symbolic. But political observers in Raipur note that replacing the man who was both the face and the brain of AAP’s expansion in the Hindi heartland will not be easy.

MP Bus Strike Ahead of Holi 2026: Travel Plans in Jeopardy Across 55 Districts

The MP Bus Strike announced just days before Holi has triggered widespread concern among passengers across Madhya Pradesh. With nearly 20,000 buses set to go off the roads from 6 am on March 2, festive travel plans for thousands of families may face serious disruption.

As the Holi travel rush intensifies, buses across major cities including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, and Jabalpur are already witnessing heavy passenger traffic. The strike, called by the Madhya Pradesh Bus Operators Association, will impact all 55 districts of the state.

Why Has the MP Bus Strike Been Announced?

The strike stems from opposition to the proposed Madhya Pradesh Transport Policy, which aims to introduce a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for bus route operations.

Under the proposed system:

 Bus route tenders will be handed over to seven private companies.

 These companies will determine passenger fares.

 Existing bus owners will continue providing drivers, staff, and fuel.

 Private firms may take up to 10% commission from fare collections.

According to Jaykumar Jain, General Secretary of the Bus Operators Association, the current fare stands at ₹1.25 per kilometre. Under the new structure, it could rise to ₹1.75 per kilometre.

“We do not want to trouble passengers, but we oppose this policy,” Jain stated, adding that a memorandum has already been submitted to the government.

Holi Travel Rush May Turn Costly

The timing of the MP Bus Strike is crucial. Holi is one of the biggest festivals in the state, prompting large-scale intercity travel.

If buses remain off the roads:

 Trains are expected to be overcrowded.

 Private taxis and travel vehicles may see surge pricing.

 Per-person travel costs could jump 5–7 times.

For instance:

 Current bus fare from Bhopal to Hoshangabad: ₹100 per passenger.

 Private vehicle fare during strike: ₹1,500–₹2,000 per vehicle.

 Shared cost per person (4 passengers): ₹500–₹600.

Similar fare spikes are likely across other popular routes.

Travel experts warn that last-minute bookings could further inflate prices due to high demand and limited alternatives.

Government’s Stand on the Issue

State Transport Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh addressed concerns during the Budget Session in the Assembly.

He clarified that the new policy aims to streamline operations and increase bus availability. According to official data:

 Around 14,000 buses currently operate in the state.

 The estimated requirement is 16,000 buses to meet passenger demand.

“The buses and conductors will remain theirs. The government will only supervise operations,” the minister stated, assuring that no operator’s interests would be harmed.

 What Passengers Should Do Now

With uncertainty looming, travellers planning Holi journeys are advised to:

 Confirm ticket status in advance.

 Explore railway and carpool options early.

 Avoid last-minute bookings.

 Monitor official government and association announcements.

If negotiations between the Bus Operators Association and the state government fail, the MP Bus Strike could significantly affect festival mobility.

The MP Bus Strike has emerged as a major public concern ahead of Holi 2026. While bus operators protest the new transport policy, passengers find themselves caught in the middle. With fares likely to surge and options limited, clarity from ongoing talks will be crucial in the coming days.

For now, festive travel in Madhya Pradesh hangs in uncertainty.