Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha moved from AAP to BJP in April. (Photo: Instagram/ @raghavchadha88)The egg has travelled from Bengal to Punjab. In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra alleged that BJP workers pelted eggs at her. In Punjab, BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged that AAP supporters attacked his convoy with eggs and stones. So, what the BJP was accused of doing in Bengal, the party has now accused the AAP of doing in Punjab.There is another political connection. Mamata Banerjee is a political ally of Arvind Kejriwal, though their parties have their own equations in different states. As Shakespeare put it, “the wheel is come full circle.” Perhaps there is a new rule lately: what the BJP is accused of in Bengal, it should be prepared to face it in Punjab. And eggs, it seems, have no respect for state borders.Raghav Chadha’s cup of teaRaghav Chadha’s much-talked-about stop in Punjab after joining the BJP was Amritsar’s iconic Giani Tea Stall. He sat down for tea and discussed Punjab politics with people around him, even posting his own verse on tea and “nasha”.But Chadha is not exactly moving around Punjab unnoticed these days. AAP is watching him closely. Intelligence sleuths have also been directed to track his movements and capture his every move, sources say. That is hardly surprising given the circumstances. Chadha, once one of AAP’s most prominent faces in Punjab, has now crossed over to the BJP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs. So, while Chadha may have been sitting at Giani’s over a cup of tea, plenty of eyes were on the table and, more importantly, on who was sitting around it.Navjot Sidhu loses weight, politically, tooNavjot Sidhu has lost weight. His social media posts show him looking much like the strapping young cricketer he once was, occasionally pulling out outfits from the wardrobe of yore to remind everyone of those days. But while Sidhu appears keen to regain attention after keeping away from active politics and his Congress party, there seems to be little political interest in him these days. Navjot Singh Sidhu (File photo).Perhaps Sidhu has lost not just physical weight, but political weight too. The Congress, meanwhile, does not appear particularly worried. The party has its own battles to fight-a race for the chair, factionalism and enough infighting to keep everyone occupied. Sidhu may have shed kilos, but he appears to have shed political relevance along with them. And in a Congress busy fighting over who gets the chair, there is little time to notice who has left the room.Games CMs playSports grounds have often doubled up as political stages. The latest entrant is Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who played volleyball with players from his Dhuri constituency ahead of the Assembly elections. An avid volleyball player, Mann is known to have a net at all his residences, including the official Chief Minister’s residence. In the video, the 53-year-old Mann appeared agile and fit. In an election year, every shot carried a message, loud and clear: I am in control.Story continues below this adIt brings to mind former chief minister Amarinder Singh, who, despite his age, once made sure the cameras captured him playing badminton. Different chief ministers, different games, but much the same political messaging. When elections are around the corner, a chief minister stepping onto a sports ground is never just about sport. It is about projecting energy, fitness and command. And the volleyball show came just hours after BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu was caught on camera waving a liquor bottle at Mann’s passing cavalcade. The messaging was hard to miss.Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram