AAP Government Wins Confidence Vote in Punjab Assembly

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government in Punjab, headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, successfully passed a crucial floor test in the state Assembly on Friday, reaffirming its majority amid recent political turbulence. Out of the 94 legislators present in the House, 88 voted in favour of the confidence motion, while four MLAs remained absent. Two legislators—Laljit Singh Bhullar and Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra—were unable to attend as they are currently lodged in jail. The confidence motion was moved by Chief Minister Mann during a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, days after a political setback in which seven Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Despite the defections, Mann asserted that the party remains united and continues to expand. “Rumours are being spread that AAP will be finished and its MLAs will switch sides. Such rumours create an illusion in people’s minds,” Mann said while presenting the motion, projecting confidence in his government’s stability. The Assembly proceedings, however, were marked by high drama and disruptions. A brief stir was witnessed when the Leader of Opposition submitted a letter to the Speaker demanding that all legislators undergo a dope test. The Speaker rejected the demand, terming it inappropriate. Tensions escalated further when Mann objected to the use of mobile phones inside the House and criticized the seating posture of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Khaira responded sharply, levelling allegations against the Chief Minister. The exchange led to a heated confrontation, prompting Congress members to stage a walkout from the Assembly. Despite the disruptions, the successful passage of the confidence motion underscores the AAP government’s numerical strength in the Assembly. The development comes at a politically sensitive time, as opposition parties continue to question the stability of the ruling dispensation.