It was a turbulent year in Punjab with major elections this year, starting with the Lok Sabha elections in June and ending with the general elections in December.
Three-term Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittuwho represented Ludhiana in the Lok Sabha twice, made a major contribution to his party when he joined the BJP in March.
AAP strengthened its positions ahead of the LS elections by fielding candidates from rival parties. Key figures include Raj Kumar Chabbewal and Gurpreet Singh GP from Congress, and Pawan Kumar Tinu from Shiromani Akali Dal.
However, AAP also faced setbacks. Lok Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Rinku defected to the BJP despite being nominated by the party, while former MP Dharamvir Gandhi, who defeated Congress leader Perneet Kaur in 2014, returned to the Congress in April.
Ludhiana and Jalandhar witnessed a storm of political rebellion in 2024, with municipal polls and by-elections becoming theaters of shifting loyalties. From overnight party changes to claims of coercion, the year has underscored the fluidity of Punjab’s political landscape.
Ludhiana: The sport of scarves
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections showed the fastest turnout.
Jagdish Lal: Congress to AAP, back to Congress, and AAP again
Jagdish Lal, a councilor from Ward 6, made history on December 26. Elected on a Congress ticket, he joined the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the afternoon, returned to the Congress two hours later, and at 8 pm, rejoined the -AAP, wearing the party scarf alongside cabinet minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. “I have no pressure. Now I am with AAP,” Lal said after the final revolution, though his toss-up drew a lot of criticism.
Chatarveer Singh: Alleged abduction
On December 24, Chatarveer Singh, alias Kamal Arora, a councilor from Ward 20 elected on a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ticket, joined the AAP at midnight. Days later, he returned to SAD, saying he was “captured” and forced to change. The SAD has accused the AAP of using a false FIR lodged against Singh to suppress him, alleging a lack of ethics in the ruling party’s tactics.
Jalandhar: Ripe rebels
Jalandhar’s political scene was less strong, with veteran leaders switching allegiance.
Sushil Kumar Rinku: Congress to AAP to BJP
Rinku, a Congress loyalist for decades, switched to AAP during the 2023 Jalandhar by-election. Winning the seat as an AAP member, he joined the BJP within a year but lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to Congress’ Charanjit Singh Channi. Rinku said Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had personally invited him to AAP, citing the party’s lack of candidates.
Surjit Kaur: Two switches a day
Surjit Kaur, a two-time councilor and SAD member from the Jalandhar Assembly constituency, made headlines for joining AAP in July, but returned to SAD hours later. He was first rejected by the SAD because of his connection with the rebel group, later he received the symbol of the group “takdi”. However, his credibility remains questionable after he supported an AAP candidate in the municipal elections. “I was forced to join AAP, but I remain an Akali at heart,” Kaur said, pointing out her late husband’s close association with SAD stalwart Parkash Singh Badal.
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