Cabinet meeting, whip to MLAs, and opposition boycott fuel speculation over confidence motion in Punjab Assembly
May 1, 2026: The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab will hold a Cabinet meeting ahead of a special session of the Legislative Assembly scheduled for Friday. The one-day session, convened on International Workers’ Day, is officially aimed at honouring the working class, but is expected to be dominated by political developments and strategic moves by the ruling party.
There is growing speculation that the Bhagwant Mann-led government may introduce a confidence motion in the House amid concerns over alleged attempts at defections, often referred to as “Operation Lotus” by opposition parties. The party has issued a whip to ensure full attendance of its MLAs. The move comes amid reported internal unease and claims of possible instability within the party’s legislative ranks.
The opposition has strongly reacted to the developments. The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to boycott the session, calling the move a political strategy to secure a six-month buffer against any no-confidence motion. Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress has criticised the session as a diversionary tactic, alleging that the government is attempting to avoid accountability. With tensions rising, the special session is expected to be closely watched for its impact on the government’s stability.