In a significant political development that underlines the ongoing tensions between ruling and opposition parties in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organized a large-scale protest in Mohali against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa. The demonstration, attended by numerous AAP workers, supporters, and party leaders, was aimed at condemning Bajwa’s recent remarks and actions which the ruling party has termed as “irresponsible and obstructive.”

The protest was held in Mohali’s busy commercial district, where scores of AAP members arrived holding placards and banners. The slogans echoed the party’s claims that Bajwa has been continuously attempting to stall the progress of the state through negative politics and baseless allegations. Senior AAP leaders, including cabinet ministers and MLAs, addressed the gathering and accused the Congress of attempting to derail developmental initiatives taken by the Bhagwant Mann-led government.

AAP leaders, while speaking at the protest, criticized Bajwa’s statements made during the recent Assembly session, alleging that his conduct reflects the Congress party’s discomfort with the growing popularity of AAP’s governance model. They further claimed that Bajwa has consistently chosen to politicize serious issues rather than contribute constructively toward policy debates and public welfare.

The ruling party reiterated its commitment to the development of Punjab and stated that such protests are necessary to expose what they called the “double standards” of opposition leaders. “The people of Punjab have given us a mandate to bring change, to deliver honest governance and ensure the welfare of every citizen. But there are some forces, like Bajwa and his party, who cannot digest this change,” said one AAP spokesperson during the event.

Several AAP MLAs took turns addressing the crowd, recounting what they claimed was a history of Congress-led governments neglecting the people of Punjab. They accused Bajwa of failing to raise people-centric issues when his party was in power and now trying to regain relevance through hollow criticism.

At the heart of the protest was AAP’s argument that Bajwa has been “anti-people” in his approach, often opposing welfare schemes without any valid reason. In particular, party leaders cited his criticism of education and healthcare reforms undertaken by the AAP government, including the mohalla clinics initiative and revamp of government schools.

The event in Mohali remained peaceful, with police deployed to maintain law and order and ensure the demonstration didn’t disrupt local life. Traffic was temporarily redirected around the protest site, and public transportation in the area remained largely unaffected.

While the Congress party has not officially responded to the protest at the time of reporting, sources within the party indicate that they view the AAP’s demonstration as a diversionary tactic meant to distract from the state government’s own shortcomings. Bajwa himself has remained defiant, reportedly stating that he stands by his criticism and will continue to raise the voice of the people, regardless of how the ruling party perceives it.

This protest also highlights a growing political rivalry between AAP and Congress in Punjab, particularly as the state heads into a series of crucial local elections. Both parties are vying for influence over the same voter base, especially in urban and semi-urban constituencies, which have become a political battleground in recent years.

For AAP, this protest served as an opportunity to consolidate its support and send a strong message that it won’t tolerate what it perceives as unjustified obstruction from the opposition. For the Congress, it adds pressure to respond with a counter-narrative, especially as the Leader of the Opposition’s statements continue to stir debate both inside and outside the Assembly.

The protest in Mohali ended with a call for continued vigilance by AAP leaders, urging supporters to remain aware of what they called “misleading tactics” by opposition parties. They also vowed to intensify their outreach efforts and keep the public informed about the government’s achievements and future plans.