Political turmoil in Punjab intensified after AAP expelled MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from the party
The Aam Aadmi Party AAP has suspended Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from the party for 5 years on charges of anti-party activities. The decision was taken by the AAP’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC).
The main reason for the suspension is being considered to be Kunwar Vijay Pratap’s questioning of the vigilance action against Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia and his frequent criticism of the party’s controversial decisions.
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh has opposed several decisions and policies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from time to time, some of the prominent cases are as follows -:
● 2015 Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents and sacrilege cases (2023-2025): Kunwar Vijay Pratap, who is a former IPS officer and was associated with the investigation of the 2015 incidents, has often raised questions on the AAP government’s investigation into the 2015 Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents and the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib cases.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the process of the investigation and the performance of the Punjab government, especially regarding the vigilance action against Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
● Stetment’s on the party’s internal performance (2024): Vijay Pratap often made open comments on the policies and administrative decisions of the AAP government in Punjab. He disagreed with the party leadership’s handling of issues, which the party considered as “anti-party activities”. His statements were seen as a challenge to the party’s unity.
● Criticism on local issues (2023-2024): As the MLA from Amritsar North, Vijay Pratap also raised questions on local issues, such as development works and the implementation of pro-people policies of the Punjab government. These comments of his were unpopular with the party leadership, which led to increased tension between the party and them.
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, a former IPS officer who won from Amritsar North on an AAP ticket in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, had earlier raised questions about the party’s government’s performance, especially the investigation into the 2015 Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents and the sacrilege cases.