August 13, 2026 10:34 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Netaji row: Suvendu Adhikari govt strips BJP MP Anant Maharaj of state honour | Sukhbir Badal attacked by Nihang Sikh with kirpan at Maharashtra gurdwara; assailant detained | ‘If you cannot do it, we will pass an order’: Supreme Court’s final warning to Centre on food labels | ‘Time to move on’: Bombay HC sends strong message in Vijay Mallya-bank dispute | Netaji row explodes in Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari orders police action over ‘derogatory’ posts | Kolkata's NRS Hospital nurse found dead in washroom during night shift | RG Kar rape-murder case takes fresh turn as ex-TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh arrested over cremation probe | ‘Govt has nothing to hide’: Amit Shah says ‘ready for debate’ on NEET crackdown; Rahul Gandhi hits back, ‘not interested in lecture’ | Tata Sons leadership shock: N Chandrasekaran won’t seek reappointment as chairman after February 2027 | ISI-linked Pakistani national arrested in Bengal over 'espionage' targeting Army, BSF, Railways
BJP targets Punjab early as Chadha, Mittal lead AAP exodus during Bengal polls.
Mission Punjab
BJP eyes Punjab 2027 polls early as Raghav Chadha leads AAP exodus. Photo: AI composition by ChatGPT

BJP turns to Punjab even before Bengal polls end as Chadha-led AAP exodus signals 2027 push

| @indiablooms | Apr 24, 2026, at 09:33 pm

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun positioning itself for the Punjab Assembly elections even as voting continues in West Bengal, with the defection of Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs signalling an early strategic shift towards the 2027 contest.

The coordinated move by multiple Rajya Sabha members has drawn attention to the BJP’s ongoing political mobilisation, extending beyond immediate electoral battles to future state contests.

Early signals for Punjab 2027

With Punjab scheduled to go to the polls in early 2027, the BJP appears to be consolidating its presence well in advance.

The entry of leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party, including Chadha and Mittal, adds new faces to the party’s ranks in a state where it has historically had limited independent electoral success.

Punjab has remained outside the BJP’s direct control, with the party previously operating in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal before their split in 2020.

The recent developments indicate a renewed focus on building a stronger standalone presence.

Leadership messaging and political direction

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier linked electoral momentum across states while addressing party workers after the Bihar Assembly election victory.

He referred to the geographical and political flow from Bihar to Bengal, indicating the party’s broader electoral outlook.

Subsequent political developments suggest that the focus may now be extending further westward towards Punjab, even as the Bengal election process remains ongoing.

Campaign momentum across states

Senior BJP leaders have remained actively engaged in campaigning across multiple states.

Modi addressed several rallies in West Bengal, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted extensive outreach on the ground.

Other leaders, including Himanta Biswa Sarma, Yogi Adityanath and Rekha Gupta, also participated in campaign efforts, reflecting the party’s multi-state mobilisation strategy.

Strengthening presence in Punjab

The BJP’s challenge in Punjab has historically centred on the absence of strong local leadership.

The party’s earlier reliance on alliances limited its independent organisational footprint in the state.

Recent entrants, including Chadha, Mittal and other MPs, add to existing leaders such as Ravneet Singh Bittu, who had previously joined the BJP from the Congress.

These additions are expected to contribute to the party’s efforts to expand its base.

AAP exodus reshapes political landscape

The departure of several AAP MPs has created a shift within the party’s parliamentary representation.

The coordinated nature of the move, involving multiple leaders from Punjab, highlights internal changes within the party’s ranks.

As the BJP continues its campaign in West Bengal, the developments indicate parallel political activity focused on upcoming electoral contests, with Punjab emerging as a key area of interest ahead of the 2027 elections.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.