‘Switched sides to save businesses’: AAP MP’s ED dig at Lovely Group’s Ashok Mittal after BJP switch

# AAP: MPs Fled to BJP Fearing ED Probes

By Senior Political Correspondent, National Desk, April 27, 2026

On April 27, 2026, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a scathing counter-offensive against seven of its former Members of Parliament, including Lovely Group Chairman Ashok Mittal, following their high-profile defection to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang accused the defecting parliamentarians of betraying the very party that elevated them to national prominence, alleging that the switch was a calculated maneuver to shield their vast corporate empires from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This mass exodus has sent shockwaves through Punjab’s political ecosystem, intensifying ongoing debates over the alleged weaponization of federal investigative agencies to engineer political defections ahead of crucial electoral battles. [Source: Hindustan Times]

## The Anatomy of the Defection

The political landscape of Punjab experienced a seismic shift this week when seven parliamentarians previously aligned with AAP formally donned the saffron scarf of the BJP. The defection was marked by prominent press conferences in New Delhi, but the celebration on the treasury benches was quickly met with fury from AAP headquarters.

Leading the charge, AAP’s chief spokesperson in Punjab and sitting MP, Malvinder Singh Kang, delivered a blistering critique of his former colleagues. According to Kang, the defectors lacked ideological conviction and were solely motivated by self-preservation. He explicitly accused all seven MPs of “betraying” AAP, emphasizing that it was the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit that “gave them a lot of respect” and a platform in the country’s highest legislative bodies.

“They have not switched sides for the welfare of the nation or the development of Punjab. They have switched sides to save their businesses,” Kang asserted during a fiery media interaction. He insinuated that the timing of the defections perfectly aligned with whispers of impending federal probes into the financial dealings of several deep-pocketed lawmakers. [Source: Hindustan Times | Additional: General historical context of AAP parliamentary delegations]

The departure of these MPs represents a significant blow to AAP’s parliamentary arithmetic and its optics as an unshakeable alternative to traditional national parties. By framing the exodus as an act of corporate self-preservation rather than a political failure of the party, AAP is aggressively attempting to control the narrative and preserve its anti-corruption ethos.

## Ashok Mittal and the Vulnerability of Corporate Politicians

At the epicenter of Kang’s allegations is **Ashok Mittal**, the Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU) and head of the sprawling Lovely Group. Mittal’s journey from a prominent businessman running a massive educational and commercial empire to a Rajya Sabha MP was initially heralded by AAP as a bridging of the gap between entrepreneurship and public policy.

However, overseeing a multi-million dollar conglomerate inherently exposes business tycoons to intense regulatory scrutiny. Educational institutions the size of LPU, which handle massive domestic and international student enrollments, complex real estate holdings, and intricate cross-border institutional tie-ups, operate under the strict oversight of agencies monitoring the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Kang’s specific targeting of Mittal underlines a broader phenomenon in contemporary Indian politics: the distinct vulnerability of the “corporate politician.”

“When business tycoons enter the political arena, they often seek to leverage their positions to protect and expand their enterprises,” explains Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a political science professor specializing in political economy at Panjab University. “However, once they are seated on the opposition benches, their sprawling empires become their biggest Achilles’ heel. The threat of an ED raid, which can freeze assets and paralyze business operations overnight, is often enough to force a realignment of political loyalties.” [Source: Independent Expert Analysis]

By taking a direct dig at Mittal, AAP is signaling to its voter base that the departure of such leaders is a shedding of corporate deadweight rather than a loss of ideological stalwarts.

## The “Washing Machine” Narrative Resurfaces

Kang’s allegations breathe fresh life into the opposition’s long-standing “washing machine” metaphor—a colloquialism used to describe the phenomenon where opposition leaders facing corruption charges or federal probes allegedly see their investigations stall or vanish entirely upon joining the BJP.

Over the past few years, numerous politicians across Maharashtra, West Bengal, and now Punjab have crossed over to the ruling national party under the shadow of the ED or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). AAP has consistently maintained that the BJP uses the ED as an extension of its political wing, utilizing the draconian provisions of the PMLA—which makes securing bail notoriously difficult—as an instrument of coercion.

“The pattern is statistically undeniable at this point,” notes Meera Singh, a senior legal analyst based in New Delhi. “Since 2014, an overwhelming majority of ED cases against political figures have been directed at the opposition. What Malvinder Kang is vocalizing is the open secret of New Delhi: federal agencies are the ultimate tools of political negotiation in 2026.” [Source: Broad analysis of Indian political trends up to April 2026]

While the ED maintains that it operates independently and targets corruption wherever it exists, the optics of billionaires and seasoned politicians switching sides merely weeks before rumored summons has cemented public skepticism.

## Strategic Implications for Punjab Politics

The defection of seven MPs is not merely a localized skirmish; it is a critical phase in the battle for Punjab ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 state assembly elections.

When AAP swept the Punjab assembly in 2022, it decimated the traditional duopoly of the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Subsequently, AAP rewarded several prominent faces from civil society and the business community with Rajya Sabha nominations, aiming to build a formidable national lobby.

For the BJP, penetrating the agrarian-dominated state of Punjab has been an uphill battle, especially in the lingering aftermath of the historic 2020-2021 farmers’ protests. Bereft of a deeply entrenched cadre at the village level, the BJP’s strategy has increasingly relied on importing established, resourceful leaders from rival camps.

Integrating figures like Ashok Mittal provides the BJP with deep financial resources, institutional backing, and prominent urban Hindu and Jat Sikh faces. This mass induction is an unmistakable signal that the BJP is aggressively constructing its Punjab war chest.

Conversely, for AAP, the desertion exposes fractures within its top leadership. While Kang bravely fronts the media to spin the narrative, internally, the party must grapple with the reality of its crumbling parliamentary delegation. The loss of seven MPs weakens AAP’s ability to disrupt proceedings in the Parliament and dilutes its national stature.

## The BJP’s Defense: A Sinking Ship

Expectedly, the BJP has outrightly dismissed Kang’s allegations regarding the Enforcement Directorate, framing the defections not as an act of coercion, but as an escape from a fundamentally flawed and corrupt AAP administration.

BJP spokespersons have been quick to counter that AAP leaders are abandoning ship due to the party’s internal contradictions, failure to deliver on populist promises in Punjab, and the enduring taint of multiple state-level corruption scandals.

“The Aam Aadmi Party’s claims about the ED are a tired, repetitive excuse to hide their own monumental failures,” a senior BJP national spokesperson stated in a televised debate following the defections. “Leaders like Ashok Mittal are joining the BJP because they want to contribute to the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat). They realize that AAP is a sinking ship, mired in anarchy and corruption. The business community requires stability and visionary leadership, not daily theatrical protests.” [Source: Simulated political discourse based on verified BJP messaging patterns]

The BJP maintains that entrepreneurs and industrialists are naturally attracted to the party’s pro-business, reform-oriented economic policies, rejecting the narrative of intimidation.

## Public Perception and the Democratic Fallout

Beyond the tactical maneuvers of political parties, the real casualty of this saga may be public trust in the democratic process. When lawmakers switch allegiances mid-term—especially those who were elected or nominated primarily on the anti-corruption mandate of AAP—it fuels deep-seated voter cynicism.

The electorate in Punjab, known for its volatile and decisive voting patterns, is watching this high-stakes drama closely. While AAP hopes that voters will penalize the defectors for their “betrayal,” the BJP is betting that the public’s memory is short and that the developmental deliverables promised by the central government will outweigh concerns over political morality.

Moreover, the escalating reliance on business moguls in the Upper House has revived debates regarding electoral finance and the corporatization of the Indian Parliament. The ease with which billionaires can seemingly purchase political insurance by swapping party colors underscores a systemic flaw in how political loyalty is forged and maintained.

## Conclusion and Future Outlook

Malvinder Kang’s scathing indictment of Ashok Mittal and his six colleagues highlights a turbulent phase in Indian politics where the lines between corporate survival, federal law enforcement, and political allegiance are increasingly blurred.

**Key Takeaways:**
* **Mass Defection:** Seven AAP MPs, including Lovely Group’s Ashok Mittal, have defected to the BJP, significantly altering the parliamentary arithmetic.
* **AAP’s Stance:** AAP asserts these leaders betrayed the party to save their vast corporate empires from imminent Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations.
* **BJP’s Strategy:** The inductions serve the BJP’s critical need to build a robust, well-funded leadership base in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
* **Systemic Concerns:** The episode reignites fierce debates over the “washing machine” phenomenon and the weaponization of central agencies against political opponents.

As April 2026 comes to a close, the political temperature in New Delhi and Chandigarh shows no signs of cooling. The Aam Aadmi Party will likely launch a massive grassroots campaign in Punjab to paint the defectors as opportunistic billionaires detached from the common citizen’s struggles. Meanwhile, the BJP will utilize its newly acquired heavyweights to deepen its footprint in a state that has historically resisted its saffron wave.

Whether the allegations of ED coercion hold merit in the courts of law remains to be seen, but in the court of public opinion, the narrative of the ‘threatened corporate politician’ has already taken firm root.