Chandigarh, May 1
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab comfortably cleared the confidence motion brought forward by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a special one-day Assembly session on Friday. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who seconded the motion, used the occasion to sharply criticise the BJP-led Centre over the defection of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs.
To ensure full attendance, the ruling party had earlier issued a whip to all its legislators for the session. In the 117-member House, AAP commands a formidable strength of 94 MLAs, while the Congress holds 16 seats, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) three, BJP two, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) one, and one Independent.
When Mann moved the motion, the Opposition benches were conspicuously empty. The Congress had staged a walkout, the BJP boycotted the proceedings, and SAD legislators along with the lone BSP MLA were also absent. The only non-AAP member present was Independent MLA Rana Inderpratap Singh, leaving the ruling party unchallenged as it sailed through the exercise with ease.
After winning the Trust Vote, Mann declared the mandate as a reflection of enduring public trust. “Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s support base remains intact and will translate into an even bigger mandate in 2027, even as he underscored the party’s grassroots strength built with blood and sweat and its unwavering alignment with Arvind Kejriwal,” he said.
Taking on the opposition, he pointed to Congress’s absence in the House as tacit support and questioned the BJP’s organisational depth, while also signalling a larger constitutional battle by announcing that Punjab will approach the President seeking stricter anti-defection provisions or a recall mechanism. Positioning AAP as a resilient national force unaffected by defections, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that the party represents people’s trust that cannot be broken, while warning that institutions like the ED and CBI are being misused in ways that undermine the Constitution envisioned by Babasaheb Ambedkar.
During the proceedings, a total of 88 AAP MLAs were present in the House, while two AAP MLAs were abroad and two were in jail. In addition, two MLAs were hospitalized. The Confidence Motion secured unanimous support in the House, underlining the strength and unity of the Bhagwant Mann government.
Moving the Confidence Motion and addressing the Assembly, Mann asserted that attempts were being made to destabilise the government through misinformation, but the people of Punjab continue to stand firmly with it. “These days canards are being spread to destabilise the state government, creating a sense of doubt in the minds of the people. However, the people of Punjab have time and again shown explicit confidence in the government and its policies.”
Mann stated, “The entire opposition is baffled as they are not getting any response from the people despite their negative propaganda.” Taking on the opposition’s internal contradictions, the Chief Minister asserted, “The opposition is completely in shambles, and their leadership is divided with leaders squabbling for power. The Leader of Opposition and his own brother live in the same house but have flags of different parties on it,” while contrasting it with AAP’s unity, adding, “The ruling AAP is fully united, with everyone making concerted efforts for the progress of Punjab.”
Highlighting legislative and political developments, Mann said, “The opposition parties are unable to digest that the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2026 has been passed, as it will not allow them to pursue their divisive agenda.” He further noted, “AAP’s growing presence, from Gujarat to across the country, has frustrated BJP and its allies. AAP is now spread from Jammu to Goa, giving sleepless nights to both BJP and Congress, who prefer friendly matches over raising issues of public importance.”
Reiterating the ideological strength of the party, Mann stated, “Unlike Congress, Akali Dal or BJP, AAP cannot be broken as it has emerged to clean the political system. The shifting allegiance of a few opportunist leaders makes no difference, as the people of Punjab stand firmly with the government and its path-breaking initiatives.” He added, “After these defections, opposition parties falsely claimed that AAP MLAs were in contact with them, whereas even their own leaders do not see eye to eye.”
Raising concerns about the broader democratic environment, Mann said, “The country is passing through tough times, where democratic norms are being jeopardised and the Constitution is being ransacked. This is a grave insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Chief Architect of the Constitution, and is intolerable,” further adding, “Votes are being hijacked and central agencies are being misused to muzzle the voice of democracy.”
Continuing his criticism of the BJP, Mann remarked, “The BJP has no cadre of its own. Celebrities come, contest elections and then leave. Ironically, out of their 240 MPs, 125 are from the Congress, which shows they have no base.” He added, “Leaders who have switched parties have backstabbed the people and their mandate. I will meet the President of India to demand amendments so that such leaders can be recalled.”
