India, Nov. 3 -- Punjab is heading towards its 2027 Assembly elections amid two connected developments - political defections within the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and protests over the state's continuing drug crisis.

Three AAP legislators, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at its headquarters in New Delhi on November 2. Their departure followed public criticism of the Bhagwant Mann-led government over issues including drug trafficking, law and order, unfulfilled election promises and governance.

The political developments come against the backdrop of protests in Mansa following the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota on October 13....