In response to the confidence motion tabled on the floor of the House by Bhagwant Mann, Congress MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa displayed an aggressive posture on the opening day of the Vidhan Sabha session.
Despite their numerical insignificance, Congress MLAs made their presence in the House felt in support of the CM’s confidence motion. The party had 18 MLAs, 15 of whom were present.
After Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan could not proceed with the confidence motion, the proceedings were adjourned three times before the Congress MLAs were named.
In violation of legislative rules, the government brought in the trust vote, Bajwa said.
According to him, the government enjoying the majority cannot move a confidence motion, reminding the Speaker that the motion was not discussed in the Business Advisory Committee meeting.
Bholath MP Sukhpal Khaira and other party MLAs, including State Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, tried to counter the offensive by treasury bench legislators. Bajwa continued to lead the charge against the Treasury benches even as the CM introduced the confidence motion.
Before being named by the Speaker, the Congress MLAs stormed the Well of the House and raised slogans. A short adjournment followed. A mock session was conducted with Randhawa acting as the “Speaker” after the MLAs left the Vidhan Sabha.