A special session of the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a sharp political confrontation over the status of Banga MLA Dr. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress demanding clarity on which party the legislator truly represents.
The Core of the Controversy
Sukhwinder Sukhi, originally a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) legislator, had quit the party to join the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in August 2024. Following his switch, the AAP government appointed him as the chairman of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, a position with Cabinet rank. However, a critical procedural step remains incomplete: Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan is yet to formally accept his resignation from the SAD.
This delay has created a constitutional limbo, with Sukhi facing potential disqualification under the anti-defection law. A related case is currently pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Assembly Floor Showdown
The issue came to a head when Sukhi rose to speak on a resolution concerning the replacement of the MGNREGA scheme with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission. Congress's Partap Bajwa immediately intervened, directing his question to Deputy Speaker Jai Kishan Rouri, who was presiding.
"He should clarify which party he belongs to," Bajwa asserted. "Since he is the chairman of a government board, 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." He emphasized that while Sukhi was appointed by the AAP government, he technically remained an SAD MLA, and his status needed clarification.
Deputy Speaker Rouri, taken aback, initially asked Bajwa to let Sukhi speak, promising to provide information later. However, Bajwa stood his ground, refusing to budge on the question.
Political Retorts and Dalit Card Allegations
In response, AAP president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora offered a rebuttal, stating he would answer as the party chief. "He is to us what Sandeep Jakhar is to the Congress," Arora said, drawing a parallel with the former Congress MP. Bajwa quickly retorted that Jakhar was no longer a member of the Congress.
The debate soon turned acrimonious. AAP legislators launched a verbal attack on Bajwa, accusing him of being anti-Dalit. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Deputy Speaker Rouri questioned why Bajwa objected to a discussion on the rights of Dalits and labourers. Cheema labeled the Congress an "anti-Dalit party" that did not want a meaningful debate to occur.
When finally allowed to speak, Sukhi, who was seated on the Opposition benches alongside Akali members, praised the Bhagwant Mann-led government. He highlighted welfare measures like free electricity, Aam Aadmi Clinics, free travel, and the effective use of MGNREGA funds as initiatives that had put money in the hands of the poor.
The episode underscores the lingering legal and political ambiguity surrounding defections in Punjab, setting the stage for further judicial and legislative battles.
