Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann wins trust vote amid defection fears

The Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab won the confidence motion in the 117-member Punjab Assembly on Friday, with 88 AAP MLAs supporting it and four absent.

Opposition parties boycotted the motion. The move came amid concerns within the AAP after seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs joined the BJP, raising fears of possible defections among MLAs. With the passage of the motion, Mann has secured his government for the next six months.

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Mann also announced a four-day Shukrana Yatra to thank God for the passage of the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Amendment) Act, 2026. The Bill, passed unanimously last month, provides for stricter punishment for sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. He further announced a 15% increase in minimum wages for labourers, from ₹483 per day to ₹555. A pilot project to provide financial assistance to eligible women has already begun and will be implemented from July.

The BJP staged a mock no-confidence motion in Chandigarh and passed a resolution against the AAP government, accusing it of failure on all fronts.

With Punjab scheduled for elections early next year, political activity is expected to intensify in the coming months.