AAP Govt’s Confidence Motion passes in Punjab Assembly

The Confidence Motion moved by the Bhagwant Mann Government was unanimously passed in the Punjab Assembly on Friday, and AAP MLAs reaffirmed that they stand like loyal soldiers of the party. This comes days after seven Rajya Sabha MPs of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party defected to the BJP.

During the special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann moved the Confidence Motion. There are rumours that AAP will be finished and its MLAs would switch sides, and such rumours create an illusion in people’s minds, CM Mann said in the House while moving the motion.

With the Opposition MLAs not present in the House when the motion was taken up, it was unanimously passed in their absence.

Taking on those allegedly spreading rumours, CM Mann asserted that the party is strong and is expanding.   “The party is strong. From Jammu and Kashmir to Goa, the party has a presence. In J&K’s Doda, we have an MLA. Our Government in Punjab is running successfully. In Delhi, we are in the Opposition. We have five MLAs in Gujarat, two in Goa. Besides, AAP has its mayors, councillors, sarpanches at various places, the party has a national presence,” Mann said.

“We built the party with hard work, and we stand by Kejriwal like a rock,” the Punjab CM further said.

The ruling party had earlier issued a whip to all legislators to attend the one-day session.

In the 117-member Punjab Assembly, AAP enjoys an overwhelming majority with 94 MLAs, while 16 belong to the Congress, one BSP, three SAD, two BJP and one Independent.
When Mann moved the Confidence Motion, no one from the Opposition camp was present in the House, barring lone Independent MLA Rana Inderpratap Singh, with the Congress having staged a walkout and the BJP boycotting the session. SAD MLAs and the lone BSP legislator were also not present. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who seconded the motion, slammed the BJP-led Centre over the issue of defection of AAP’s seven Rajya Sabha MPs.

Cheema also accused the BJP Government of “misusing” central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI, against political rivals. The BJP Government is indulging in “gundagardi” (hooliganism), Cheema said.

Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Maan said, “We will remain loyal soldiers of AAP till our last breath. We have been given a chance by AAP, and it is our party which has brought us to this level.” 

MLA Manjit Singh Bilaspur said they will continue to stand by the party like a rock.