The resolution invoked Articles 324, 325 and 326 of the Constitution, concerning the conduct and supervision of elections, protection against discrimination in electoral rolls, and adult suffrage. It raised concerns about alleged large-scale deletions of eligible voters and sought greater transparency and accountability from the Election Commission.
The House called for an independent, impartial and credible investigation into the alleged irregularities. It also urged the Centre and constitutional authorities to protect the commission’s independence and ensure accountability. Copies are to be forwarded to the President, the Prime Minister and the CEC.
The proceedings also exposed differences between AAP and Congress over how to pursue the issue.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said Congress had submitted a non-official resolution on 12 October demanding Kumar’s resignation. According to Bajwa, that proposal appeared on the agenda for the session’s opening day but was not discussed after the government introduced its own resolution.
“Later, AAP decided to bring its official resolution and ours was not taken up,” he said.
The dispute adds to longstanding friction between Punjab and the Centre over the role of central institutions. In 2020, the then Congress government withdrew general consent for CBI investigations in the state, requiring case-specific state permission for fresh inquiries.
The Mann government subsequently entrusted anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota’s case to the CBI, illustrating its willingness to seek the agency’s involvement in particular cases despite its broader criticism of central investigative agencies.
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