{
  "id": 12045537,
  "title": "Defector MPs to dissenting MLAs: How AAP cracks widen on eve of Punjab polls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/defector-mps-to-dissenting-mlas-how-aap-cracks-widen-on-eve-of-punjab",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T00:55:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/aap-punjab-dissent-assembly-elections-2027-bhagwant-mann-10906699/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab is witnessing internal dissent ahead of the upcoming February 2027 elections. This week, Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana, an MLA from the ruling party, took to social media to voice his displeasure with the Bhagwant Mann-led government. Maiserkhana, who sends his two children to government schools, alleged that the authorities were failing to address teacher shortages in these institutions. After releasing an emotional video detailing his concerns, the AAP suspended him for \"anti-party activities\" mere hours later. This incident is part of a larger trend of dissent within the AAP, following the party's loss of several senior leaders, including seven Rajya Sabha MPs who defected to the BJP in April. The Opposition, including the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, and BJP, have seized on these defections and Maiserkhana's dissent to criticize the Mann government, claiming that the party's claims of bringing an \"education revolution\" have been debunked. The Opposition argues that the party has lost its cohesion and is being controlled from Delhi, without considering the interests of Punjab.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}