In a dramatic turn of events, the Republic Day celebrations in Bathinda district's Maur constituency were marred by a public spat and serious bribery allegations, exposing deep fault lines within the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. The incident unfolded on Monday during a function held inside the Punjabi University campus in Maur, where tensions escalated over seating arrangements, leading to a walkout by Maur Nagar Council President Karnail Singh.
Allegations of Bribery and Stalled Development
Karnail Singh, after exiting the event, made shocking allegations against local MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana. He claimed that the MLA had accepted Rs 30 lakh as a bribe to facilitate his appointment as the nagar council president. Furthermore, Singh accused Maiserkhana of obstructing development projects worth crores of rupees, allegedly to satisfy personal ego. In a plea to the chief minister, Singh demanded an immediate inquiry into the matter, highlighting concerns over corruption within the party ranks.
Seating Dispute Triggers Confrontation
The immediate catalyst for the controversy was a dispute over seating arrangements at the Republic Day function, which was fully funded by the Maur Nagar Council at an approximate cost of Rs 1.8 lakh. Karnail Singh alleged that a seat reserved for him, clearly marked with his name, was occupied by a supporter of the MLA. Despite repeated requests, the individual refused to vacate the seat, leading to a heated altercation. Singh recounted that after he and his son sat on another chair, the MLA attempted to push his son to stand up, with supporters from both sides engaging in arguments that lasted for 15–20 minutes during the cultural programme.
MLA's Denial and Counter-Allegations
In response, MLA Sukhveer Maiserkhana strongly denied the bribery allegations, labeling them as false and politically motivated. He questioned why Karnail Singh had remained silent for months if the claims were true, asserting his clean image and lack of prior corruption accusations. Maiserkhana suggested that Singh was creating controversy ahead of upcoming municipal elections, as the terms of several nagar councils, including Maur, are set to expire next month. He accused Singh of attempting to defame him and push voters towards the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in a bid to disrupt AAP's electoral prospects.
Background and Political Implications
The Maur Nagar Council comprises 17 wards, with the Congress winning 12 seats in the February 2021 elections. Karnail Singh and his wife were elected as Independents from wards 15 and 1, respectively. Singh, who has previously been associated with parties like SAD, People’s Party of Punjab, and Congress, joined AAP after it came to power. In January 2025, he secured support from nearly 14 councillors and was sworn in as nagar council president, replacing a Congress leader.
This episode raises uncomfortable questions for AAP, which positions itself as a party with zero tolerance for corruption. With civic body elections approaching, the public spat and allegations could impact the party's image and electoral strategies. Local residents have appealed to the administration to ensure that development work continues unimpeded, even suggesting the appointment of an administrator if necessary to maintain progress in the region.
