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Congress’s Partap Bajwa corners ‘defector’ MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi in Punjab Assembly, seeks to know if he is with SAD or AAP

Sukhwinder Sukhi had quit the SAD to join the AAP last year and was appointed the chairman of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation. However, the Speaker is yet to accept his resignation.

3 min readUpdated: Dec 30, 2025 05:49 PM IST

Bajwa first posed the question to Deputy Speaker Jai Kishan Rouri, who was presiding over the proceedings at the time. “He should clarify which party he belongs to.

The lingering issue of Banga MLA Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi’s defection came to haunt him during Tuesday’s special session of the Punjab Assembly when Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa sought an answer on which political party he belonged to.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) legislator Sukhi had switched over to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in August 2024. He was later appointed the chairman of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation with a Cabinet rank. However, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan is yet to accept his resignation. In the event that it is accepted, a bypoll will be necessitated. Meanwhile, Sukhi faces disqualification under the anti-defection law and a case to this effect is pending in the high court.

On Tuesday, the ruling party and the Opposition in the Assembly debated over his membership when Bajwa raised the question as Sukhi rose to speak on a resolution regarding replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme.

Comparison with Sandeep Jakhar

Bajwa first posed the question to Deputy Speaker Jai Kishan Rouri, who was presiding over the proceedings at the time. “He should clarify which party he belongs to. Since he is the chairman of a government corporation, the House should be told if he is getting the time to speak from the time allotted to the Opposition or if he is an AAP candidate,” Bajwa said.

Taken aback, Rouri asked him to let Sukhi speak and added that he would provide the information later. Bajwa, however, did not budge. The Congress leader said he was appointed the chairman of the corporation by the AAP government, but he is an SAD MLA. At least his status should be clarified.

To this, AAP president and Cabinet minister Aman Arora said he would answer this question as the party president, and said, “He is to us what Sandeep Jakhar is to the Congress.” Bajwa retorted that Jakhar is no longer a member of the Congress.

AAP legislators take on Bajwa

Seeing Bajwa’s insistence on the issue, AAP members launched a verbal attack on him, calling his stance anti-Dalit. Rouri and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema questioned why Bajwa could not bear it if anyone spoke about the rights of Dalits and labourers. Cheema called the Congress an anti-Dalit party. “It does not want a debate to take place,” he said.

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Later, when Sukhi was allowed to speak, he extolled the virtues of the Bhagwant Mann-led government, stating that the poor in the state now had money because of free power, Aam Aadmi clinics, free travel, and the utilisation of MGNREGA funds. He made the remarks while seated on the Opposition benches along with the Akalis.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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