The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today accused Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini of trying to lure its Sangrur MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj as part of the BJP’s “Operation Lotus” in Punjab. Saini has outrightly denied the claim, saying he “didn’t even know who she was”.AAP general secretary Baltej Pannu alleged that Bharaj was offered the BJP ticket from Sangrur for the 2027 Assembly elections. “The Haryana CM offered the MLA the BJP ticket and whatever else she demanded. The deal was to be finalised in a closed-door meeting,” claimed Pannu, who was accompanied by Bharaj.Rubbishing the allegation, Saini said he neither knew Bharaj now was aware which constituency she represented. “Who is she? I have never met her or sent anybody to meet her,” the Haryana CM retorted.Bharaj claimed she was approached through a middleman on behalf of the Haryana CM five days ago. “I was called for a meeting where the middleman, on Saini’s behalf, offered to induct me into the BJP. He said he would arrange a one-on-one meeting with Saini. I revealed this to the leadership of my party, which I will never betray,” she said.Bharaj was 27 in 2022 and became the youngest MLA to enter the Punjab Assembly. “I started my political career as an AAP polling agent in 2014. I was 19 then. I have grown up with the party and will never betray it,” she said.The MLA said the BJP had tried to break AAP earlier too, but it would never succeed. “All ministers, MLAs and workers are loyal to AAP. We have entered politics to change the system, and not indulge in horse-trading. Such BJP tactics can’t move us,” she said.The Haryana CM accused AAP of coming to power by promising the moon to the people of Punjab. “Now, they are unable to fulfil their false promises. AAP did the same in Delhi, which is why the voters rejected them last year. Punjabis too will oust them in 2027. I frequently visit Punjab because people invite me. The BJP will win and make Punjab the number one state,” he said.Meanwhile, Pannu said this wasn’t the first time the BJP had allegedly tried to poach its MLAs by enticing them with money and other things. “All AAP leaders and workers stand united. The BJP’s enticements worth crores could not sway a single MLA or worker during the four years of AAP rule…. Saini should keep his ‘Haryana model’ of expensive electricity to his state,” he said.In September 2022, AAP had accused the BJP of offering Rs 25 crore each to its dozen-odd MLAs in lieu of shifting their loyalties to the BJP. An FIR was registered and a Special Assembly session was convened to hold a ‘Confidence Motion”.Before the 2024 General Election, AAP had alleged for the second time that Operation Lotus had been re-launched after the party’s Jalandhar candidate, Sushil Kumar Rinku, joined the BJP. In 2025 when Independent candidate Navneet Chaturvedi tried to unsuccessfully contest the Rajya Sabha election by claiming he enjoyed the support of AAP MLAs, the state’s ruling party had accused the BJP of being the brain behind the conspiracy.