Punjab’s Vidhan Sabha briefly turned into a political theatre when Bhagwant Mann faced Opposition claims, led by Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira that he arrived “spirited” in more ways than one. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) quickly slipped into damage-control mode. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan made a timely exit, leaving Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Rodi soon after the Congress staged a walkout.
Meanwhile, the hunt was on for Harpal Singh Cheema, busy receiving President Droupadi Murmu, as he is a known baiter for Khaira. Cheema rushed in, words flew, and the House resembled a debate show. The Speaker reappeared, adjourned proceedings, and by afternoon, Mann returned with a confidence motion because nothing says control like raising the stakes. The Congress? Absent. The sitting was about ‘plenty of noise, quick exits, dramatic entries and a confidence vote that faced no confidence test at all.
Convenient amnesia
When the AAP government, shaken by desertions of its Rajya Sabha MPs, tabled its confidence motion in the Vidhan Sabha, it needed numbers. And loyalty. Preferably, both in the same seat. Jalandhar MLA Raman Arora, once pushed to the fringes, carrying the weight of vigilance cases, arrests, and a political silence that followed his release from jail last September, was the man of quiet importance. Arora’s reappearance in the Assembly during the crucial session did not go unnoticed.
Nor, evidently, did it go unrewarded. Even before he could fully settle back into the rhythms of legislative business, his withdrawn security detail was quietly restored, almost as if the system had been waiting for his attendance register to be marked. In a state where allegations of corruption can often be as persistent as they are inconvenient, the episode suggests a certain administrative elasticity.
Cases may linger, but priorities shift. And when governments face arithmetic anxieties, memory can be remarkably short. For Arora, the confidence motion delivered more than political signalling. It brought back the comforts of state protection.
signals and shifting loyalties
During the latest Vidhan Sabha sitting, Mann didn’t just acknowledge Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh’s presence; he spotlighted it by saying Rana ji is also sitting. This was not without a knowing smile that suggested there was more to the acknowledgement than what met the eye. And then came the real news. Mann went a step further, casually projecting into 2027, suggesting that Rana Gurjit’s son, an Independent MLA, Rana Inder Partap, might well find himself seated in the AAP camp. It wasn’t quite an invitation, but a prediction.
In Punjab’s Assembly politics, such off-the-cuff remarks rarely come without a reason. Whether it was friendly banter, strategic bait, or an early casting call for future alignments is open to interpretation. But in a House where numbers matter and loyalties are increasingly fluid, even a passing comment can double up as a signal. After all, in this season of shifting sands, today’s aside can easily become tomorrow’s headline.
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Times change, and so do the icons
The AAP first removed portraits of Mahatma Gandhi from Punjab government offices, replacing them with those of B R Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh. It was a symbolic shift to convey a subtle message that the party swore by Bhagat Singh’s spirit of sacrifice and Ambedkar’s constitutional vision. The move was widely seen as a shift in the set of icons representing official state spaces.
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.
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