Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday turned the floor of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha into a decisive assertion of political authority, with his government winning the Confidence Motion unanimously and sending a clear message that attempts to destabilise the Punjab Government have failed. Declaring the mandate as a reflection of enduring public trust, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that the 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.
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, CM Bhagwant Singh 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.”
CM Bhagwant Singh 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, he 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, CM Bhagwant Singh 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, CM Bhagwant Singh 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, CM Bhagwant Singh 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.”
On governance and development, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted a major irrigation initiative, stating, “For the first time in Punjab’s history, water is being released from May 1 to benefit farmers. Ahead of the paddy season, 4,000 km of new watercourses and 3,000 km of pipelines have been made operational,” adding, “21,000 cusecs of water has been released to test the system and remove any shortcomings.”
Emphasising the scale and impact, he said, “The water released is equivalent to that supplied by two Bhakra canals and will immensely benefit farmers. It will also help recharge groundwater through dedicated recharge schemes, benefiting future generations,” further noting, “Recharge points have been created in canals and rivers, leading to a rise in water levels by two to four metres.”
Underlining the long-term vision, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann concluded, “This decision is aimed at securing the future of coming generations, as Punjab’s existence depends on water. It is a matter of immense pride that 21 lakh cubic metres of water has been recharged in the last year. This historic initiative will safeguard groundwater and strengthen the farming sector in Punjab.”
