The Times of India

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is seeking a meeting with President Murmu to recall seven Rajya Sabha MPs who defected from AAP. A minister questioned the authenticity of two signatures on the defection letter, suggesting a potential forgery. The party argues these defections betray the mandate and undermine democracy, seeking a constitutional precedent for removal.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann criticized seven Rajya Sabha MPs who quit AAP, likening them to individual spices that can't make a dish alone. He accused the BJP of destabilizing his government and engineering defections, linking the move to a strict sacrilege law and perceived improvements in Punjab. Mann asserted the defectors lacked any significant vote bank.

A documentary screening of 'Aunty Sudha and Aunty Radha' at Tagore Theatre resonated deeply with Chandigarh's elderly audience. The film, depicting two sisters living independently, sparked reflections on familial bonds, the quiet contentment of aging, and the importance of emotional well-being in later life. It encouraged a shift in perspective towards valuing and being present with elders.

The exit of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including strategists Sandeep Pathak and Raghav Chadha, marks a symbolic blow to the party in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. While their operational influence had already diminished, their departure is seen as a psychological setback, with the BJP likely to leverage the defections to portray AAP as a 'sinking ship'.