AAP moves confidence motion in Punjab assembly after RS MP defections

Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Friday brought a Confidence Motion in the Punjab Assembly during a special session, just days after seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while moving the motion, said the ruling party remained strong and was continuing to expand its reach across the country. He dismissed talk of internal instability, saying such rumours were creating a false impression among the public.

“The party is strong. From Jammu and Kashmir to Goa, AAP has a presence. We have an MLA in Doda, a government in Punjab is functioning well, and we are the opposition in Delhi. We also have MLAs in Gujarat and Goa, along with elected representatives at various local levels,” Mann said in the Assembly.

The one-day special session was held after the ruling party issued a whip asking all its legislators to be present.

AAP currently holds a strong majority in the 117-member Punjab Assembly with 94 MLAs. The Congress has 16 members, Shiromani Akali Dal has three, the BJP has two, one seat is held by the Bahujan Samaj Party, and one by an Independent MLA.

The Confidence Motion came in the backdrop of a political setback for AAP last week, when seven of its ten Rajya Sabha MPs left the party and merged with the BJP, alleging that AAP had moved away from its founding principles and values. Six of these MPs were from Punjab.

Following the development, the Rajya Sabha Chairman officially approved their merger with the BJP, reducing AAP’s strength in the Upper House to three members.