The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is facing mounting criticism from a united Opposition over its repeated use of special sessions of the Vidhan Sabha, which they claim are solely aimed at attacking the BJP-led central government while sidelining crucial constituency-level issues.
Opposition Unites Against "Symbolic" Sessions
Leader of the Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa of the Congress, Sunil Jakhar, the BJP's state president, and Sukhbir Singh Badal, chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), have jointly questioned the Punjab government's strategy. They argue that the state is repeatedly bypassing regular Assembly sittings in favour of single-day special sessions, the outcomes of which remain largely symbolic.
The latest such session, the fifth since AAP assumed power in 2022, was held on December 30, 2025. The Assembly adopted a resolution against the Centre's Viksit Bharat–G Ram G scheme, alleging it dismantles the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann labelled the central legislation as "anti-Dalit and anti-poor."
A Pattern of Confrontation with the Centre
An analysis of the five special sessions reveals a consistent pattern of direct confrontation with the BJP or the central government:
- June 2022: The first session featured a confidence motion where AAP alleged the BJP's "Operation Lotus" attempted to topple its nascent government by offering Rs 25 crore to 10 MLAs.
- Subsequent Session: Focused on the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) water release to Haryana, accusing the Centre of favouring the BJP-ruled state over Punjab's farmers.
- September 2025: Convened after devastating floods, this session blamed central agencies and the Centre's negligence for the state's losses.
- November 24, 2025: A historic session held at Sri Anandpur Sahib to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur.
- December 30, 2025: Targeted the VB-G Ram G Act, with the resolution receiving support from Congress and SAD, while the BJP dismissed it as a shield for corruption.
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira highlighted the core grievance during the Tuesday session, stating that these special sessions are "becoming the order of the day" and preventing legislators from raising pressing issues faced by their own constituencies.
Deepening Centre-State Rift and Fiscal Concerns
This legislative strategy has significantly sharpened Centre-state tensions. The standoff previously escalated into an unprecedented confrontation between Chief Minister Mann and former Governor Banwarilal Purohit, a dispute that eventually reached the Supreme Court.
Beyond politics, the Opposition has raised practical concerns. Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa accused the government of wasting public money on these special sessions while failing to organise regular sittings. CM Mann countered by accusing Bajwa of opposing the "rights of the poor and Dalits" by calling the session a waste of funds.
The ongoing tactic underscores the AAP government's focus on positioning itself as the primary defender of Punjab's interests against the Centre, even as it draws fire for allegedly neglecting the granular, everyday governance issues that affect the state's residents directly.
