Punjab Special Assembly Session To Be Held Today, Trust Motion Still On Radar

It is unclear whether Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will ask for a vote of confidence during the day-long session.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann addresses a rally, in Faridkot, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.

Source : PTI

Following a week-long standoff between Governor Bawarilal Purohit and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab Government, the Vidhan Sabha's one-day session will finally take place today, with fiery scenes anticipated.

Not only have the opposition parties gathered enough ammunition to target the ruling party on "burning" issues such as SYL and sacrilege, but the AAP is ready to take on the opposition, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) alleged ploy to "buy" its legislators in order to destabilise the Punjab government.

After days of deadlock between the Raj Bhavan and the AAP Government about convening an assembly session "to seek the trust vote," the Governor had given his approval to hold the session on September 27.

The Governor's consent came a day after the AAP Government discussed with him the agenda of legislative matters to be considered during the session.

The Government told the Governor's office on Saturday in a statement that problems such as stubble burning, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and electricity supply will be considered in the normal Assembly session on September 27.

“Business on different issues as per notices received from the members may also be taken up during the session according to relevant provisions of the ‘rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha’,” the official statement reads. 

While challenging the BJP over the alleged "Operation Lotus" was the major reason the AAP Government called the session, it is unclear whether Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will ask for a vote of confidence during the day-long session.

Recently, the AAP claimed that the BJP approached at least 10 of its MLAs with an offer of Rs 25 crore apiece in an effort to overthrow the six-month-old government as part of its "Operation Lotus."

It should be noted that the Governor had already revoked the authorization to conduct a "special session" on September 22 when the AAP administration intended to present simply a resolution of confidence.

Congress MLA from Bholath, Sukhpal Singh Khaira called the one-day session a "joke" and claimed it should have been called to handle urgent matters like the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal, sacrilege, and agricultural loss from unexpected rains.

Taking to Twitter, Khaira stated: "Tomorrow’s session of Vidhan Sabha is a joke as after spending 1 Cr of peoples’ money, there’s no question-hour as govt needs 15 days notice to answer them! It shd have been summoned appropriately to discuss burning issues like Syl, Beadbi, Crop damage etc instead of merely 2 issues."

Tomorrow’s session of Vidhan Sabha is a joke as after spending 1 Cr of peoples money there’s no “Question-Hour”as govt needs 15 days notice to answer them!It shd have been summoned appropriately to discuss burning issues like Syl,Beadbi,Crop damage etc instead of merely 2 issues!

— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) September 26, 2022

Daljit Singh Cheema, the leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, suggested extending the meeting's duration to allow for discussion of the state's crucial concerns, such as "corruption, illicit sand mining, worsening" peace and order, and the excise policy.

If the AAP intends to introduce the motion of confidence in order to stage a "drama," there is no sense in having the session, according to Cheema.