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India Today
21-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
How MLA Anmol Maan's resignation bares fault lines in AAP in Punjab
In a political twist that played out with speed, Punjab MLA Anmol Gagan Maan tendered her resignation from both the legislative assembly and active politics on July 19—only to withdraw it a day later after hurried intervention by senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state chief Aman Arora was seen visiting Maan's home and hearing out her grievances. What began as an emotional exit quickly became a textbook case of damage control. But beneath the surface, the episode has exposed uncomfortable facts about the dynamics within the AAP government in Punjab and the party's broader leadership first glance, it seemed like a moment of personal anguish. Maan, a first-time MLA from Kharar and a former minister in the Bhagwant Mann cabinet, submitted her resignation letter to assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and posted on social media that she was quitting politics 'with a heavy heart'. The tone was emotional, but the implications were unmistakably had been dropped from the cabinet during a reshuffle in mid-2024. She had since maintained a relatively low public profile. Her resignation now as legislator, though sudden, had likely been simmering beneath the surface for months. That the AAP top brass acted within hours to contain the fallout says a great deal. AAP Punjab chief Arora met Maan in person, and soon after, it was announced that all 'misunderstandings' had been resolved. Her resignation was never accepted. The party presented a picture of unity and stability, but political observers were left asking: what exactly pushed a young, high-profile leader like Maan to what she did?Maan's political journey embodies both the promise and the pitfalls of AAP's rise in Punjab. A celebrated Punjabi folk singer before entering politics, she was one of the new faces recruited by the party to project youth, dynamism and a break from traditional power AAP swept to power in 2022 with a staggering 92 seats in the 117-member Punjab assembly, Maan was rewarded with a cabinet berth, symbolising both gender representation and cultural relevance. But her removal less than two years on—without any clear public reasoning—left her disillusioned. According to party insiders, Maan felt marginalised, with no meaningful role or engagement in party affairs after her disenchantment is not an isolated case. Several first-time MLAs, particularly those from non-political backgrounds, have begun expressing quiet frustration at the widening disconnect between AAP's Punjab unit and the party's central leadership. Most major decisions, including cabinet portfolios, legislative strategy and even constituency-level resource allocation, are believed to be tightly controlled by the Delhi high command. What AAP once claimed was a decentralised, people-first party model now appears to be exhibiting the very top-down tendencies it used to criticise in this context, Maan's resignation takes on greater significance. It signals not just a personal grievance but a structural fault line. The fact that she went public, bypassing internal channels, shows a lack of faith in the party's ability to listen to dissent. That she was swiftly persuaded to withdraw indicates just how sensitive the party is to any sign of instability in its only full state government. Yet, instead of using the moment to address deeper issues—be it transparency in internal decision-making or a more democratic feedback culture—AAP chose to project control and is where the broader implications become clear. With less than two years to go for assembly elections, AAP in Punjab is beginning to show signs of strain. The euphoria of 2022 has faded. On the ground, governance challenges—from rising drug-related violence to farmers' unrest—have dented the party's aura of Opposition, long fragmented, is slowly regrouping. The Congress, under Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, is rebuilding its grassroots base. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), despite internal churn, remains influential in pockets. The BJP, while still peripheral in rural Punjab, is making steady inroads among urban and Dalit voters. Any sign of internal division within AAP offers ammunition to its real risk lies in the perception of instability. Maan may have retracted her resignation, but the episode has already seeded doubt among observers and voters about AAP's internal cohesion. Her public act of rebellion, however brief, may embolden others who feel similarly sidelined. In a party filled with first-time legislators with limited political experience, emotional exits like these can quickly spiral if not addressed with structural makes this episode especially striking is how AAP chose to frame it. There was no acknowledgment of Maan's grievances. No public conversation about why she felt alienated. No suggestion of introspection. Instead, the party line was that she had been 'emotionally overwhelmed' and that all is well again. It is a familiar script—one that many parties have used over the decades—but it's a far cry from the transparency and internal democracy AAP once promised to Maan, this is perhaps a second chance to re-engage. For AAP, it is a moment of reckoning. If it fails to take stock of the growing dissatisfaction within its ranks, especially among women, cultural icons, and grassroots leaders who were once its strength, it risks undermining the very foundations of its success in Punjab. The sheen of 2022 is no longer enough to carry the party through the end, the Maan episode is less about one MLA and more about the character of a party in power. Will AAP evolve into a genuinely participative political platform? Or will it harden into another high command-driven formation that rewards loyalty over leadership and control over communication? The answer to that question may determine not just AAP's fate in Punjab but its credibility across the to India Today Magazine- Ends
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Dropped from govt, AAP MLA quits politics
Anmol Gagan Maan CHANDIGARH: AAP MLA Anmol Gagan Maan, dropped from the Punjab cabinet a year ago, resigned from the assembly on Saturday and announced her exit from politics. Maan, who represented Kharar, made the announcement on X. "My heart is heavy but I have decided to leave politics. My resignation as MLA should be accepted by the Speaker. My best wishes are with the party. I hope Punjab govt will live up to people's expectations," she wrote in Punjabi. Maan earlier held tourism, investment promotion, and hospitality portfolios before being dropped in a reshuffle. While she hasn't cited reasons, AAP sources said she resigned days ago and was urged to reconsider.
News18
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Punjab: AAP legislator from Kharar Anmol Gagan Maan resigns as MLA
Last Updated: Chandigarh, Jul 19 (PTI) AAP leader Anmol Gagan Maan on Sunday resigned as a member of Punjab Assembly and said she has decided to leave politics. The MLA from Kharar constituency sent her resignation to Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. 'My heart is heavy, but I have decided to leave politics. My resignation from the post of MLA to the Speaker should be accepted. 'My best wishes are with the party. I hope the Punjab government will live up to the expectations of the people," said Maan in a post in Punjabi on X. The singer-turned-politician was elected from the Kharar assembly seat in the 2022 Punjab assembly polls. She also became a minister and held the portfolios of tourism and culture, investment promotion, labour and hospitality. But last year, the Bhagwant Mann government dropped four ministers, including Maan, from the Cabinet. As a singer, she is known for songs like 'Suit', 'Ghaint Purpose' and 'Sherni'. PTI CHS VSD RT Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who Is Anmol Gagan Maan? AAP ex-MLA who made headlines with 'MSP in 5 minutes' remark quits politics
'My heart is heavy,' says Anmol Gagan Maan Who is Anmol Gagan Maan? Her role in the Punjab government Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Anmol Gagan Maan, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Kharar in Punjab, has announced that she is stepping away from politics. She also submitted her resignation as MLA and made the announcement through her official Facebook her post, Maan wrote, 'My heart is heavy, but I have decided to leave politics.' She asked the Speaker to accept her resignation and added, 'My best wishes are with the party. I hope the Punjab government lives up to the expectations of the people.'Anmol Gagan Maan is a popular Punjabi singer-turned-politician. She hails from Mansa district and studied at MCM DAV College in Chandigarh. Known for her powerful folk songs, she has won several awards at national and international entered politics in 2021 when she joined the Aam Aadmi Party. She contested from the Kharar constituency in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections and won by a margin of 37,718 votes, defeating Ranjit Singh Gill from the Shiromani Akali the 2022 elections, she made headlines when she said that AAP would take just "five minutes" to decide on the minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, a major issue in Punjab at the Gagan Maan served as a minister in the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government. She held several portfolios including Tourism and Culture, Investment Promotion, Labour, and Hospitality. However, she was dropped from the Cabinet in a reshuffle in September from agencies
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
AAP Punjab legislator from Kharar Anmol Gagan Maan resigns as MLA
AAP leader Anmol Gagan Maan on Saturday (July 19, 2025) resigned as a member of Punjab Assembly and said she has decided to leave politics. The MLA from Kharar constituency sent her resignation to Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. "My heart is heavy, but I have decided to leave politics. My resignation from the post of MLA to the Speaker should be accepted. "My best wishes are with the party. I hope the Punjab government will live up to the expectations of the people," said Ms. Maan in a post in Punjabi on X. The singer-turned-politician was elected from the Kharar Assembly seat in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls. She also became a minister and held the portfolios of tourism and culture, investment promotion, labour and hospitality. But last year, the Bhagwant Mann government dropped four ministers, including Maan, from the Cabinet. As a singer, she is known for songs like 'Suit', 'Ghaint Purpose' and 'Sherni'.
