Punjab politics heats up as AAP’s Pannu brands BJP a “fake assembly”

The Punjab Assembly special session features AAP defending governance and worker protections while critiquing BJP for a parallel public meeting. Baltej Pannu frames the event as theatre and emphasises safety, development, and labour rights as the session addresses Labour Day priorities.

Political tensions in Chandigarh heighten as the Punjab Assembly special session runs alongside a Bharatiya Janata Party public meeting, prompting a sharp response from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. AAP leader and Punjab Chief Minister’s media adviser Baltej Pannu accuses the BJP of staging a parallel show instead of participating inside the House.

Defending the state government’s record, Baltej Pannu insists that Punjab remains one of the safest states in India. Pannu states that the administration is focused on governance and citizens’ security while the special session addresses development and the dignity of workers, marking Labour Day with what AAP calls a substantive agenda.

Punjab Assembly special session: AAP calls BJP meet a 'fake assembly’

Baltej Pannu argues that the BJP’s programme outside the legislature is theatre, not legitimate legislative work. Pannu describes the public event as a “fake assembly” and ridicules the plan, asking how the BJP intends to act inside the House when it lacks enough MLAs to influence proceedings or even effectively raise issues.

Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Pannu alleges that the BJP has chosen the outer arena because the party “does not have the democratic numbers” to intervene meaningfully in the official Punjab Assembly special session. According to Pannu, running a “fake session” outside misleads people while avoiding the real test of strength on the Assembly floor.

Punjab Assembly special session: BJP, Congress accused over Labour Day and law and order

The AAP leader maintains that, while the government discusses workers’ rights during the Punjab Assembly special session, the BJP is “only doing distraction politics”. Pannu says the ruling party is using the special sitting to highlight labour concerns and development, contrasting this with the BJP’s focus on public optics rather than policy or legislative engagement.

Baltej Pannu also criticises Congress, claiming the party has historically neglected workers. Pannu says for Congress, Labour Day or May Day is treated as “mere formality” and not as an occasion to engage with labour welfare. This criticism extends the AAP attack beyond the BJP to the wider opposition space in Punjab.

Responding to opposition claims about deteriorating law and order in Punjab, Pannu rejects the charges and draws comparisons with other states. Pannu asks, “Why is the Centre silent on the current situation in Manipur? Will the BJP answer for the state of law and order in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh?” Pannu reiterates that Punjab is “completely safe” and that the government is committed to protecting every resident.

Pannu’s comments come at a time when the Punjab Assembly special session is already noisy over several issues, and the BJP’s decision to hold a parallel public meeting has added another political flashpoint. With AAP defending its governance record and accusing both BJP and Congress of ignoring workers, the confrontation in Chandigarh shows no sign of easing.