Punjab: All MLAs vote in Bhagwant Mann's favour; wins trust vote; BJP, Congress abstain

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government won the confidence motion in Punjab on Monday. It tabled in the Vidhan Sabha with favouring votes from 91 out of 92 ruling party legislators even as the main opposition BJP and Congress abstained from voting. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhawan was the only AAP MLA who did not vote as he landed in a controversial overcounting of votes in the government's favour.

The Speaker acknowledged 93 votes in their favour, which included votes from BSP MLA Nachhatar Pal and Akali Dal legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali, who were there in the House. Later, the two leaders opposed the trust vote and wrote the same to Sandhwan.

The confidence motion was moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on 27th September. This happened days after the Aam Aadmi Party accused BJP of attempting to topple the six-month old government by poaching its MLAs under "Operation Lotus."

The BJP accused the AAP government of bringing the confidence motion and thus violating the constitution, following which they boycotted the entire session. On the other hand, the Congress members had staged a walkout from the House as the Speaker directed the MLAs to raise their hands to vote in favour or against the motion.

The Speaker announced the result the 91 MLAs had supported the motion. He also added that the lone BSP MLA and one of the three SAD members present in the house had not opposed the motion.