By Mukesh 
The defection of seven Rajya Sabha members from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a morale booster for the BJP in Punjab, former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar said on Friday (April 24, 2026).
Mr. Kumar, a former Congress leader, said in a statement that the development will enhance the BJP’s negotiating ability with the Akali Dal for a possible pre-election alliance in Punjab and improve its public perception. It could also be a contributing factor to a fractured mandate in the Assembly election in the State, which is 10 months away, he added.