Chandigarh: The Monsoon Session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly is set to commence on Monday, August 3, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government expected to face an aggressive opposition over a range of political and public issues. The session will continue until August 10 and is likely to be the last monsoon sitting before the current government’s term concludes.
Proceedings will begin at 11 a.m. with members paying tributes to departed leaders and eminent personalities. This will be followed by the Question Hour and Zero Hour, during which legislators will have the opportunity to seek answers from the government and raise constituency-specific concerns.
During the opening day’s business, the government is also expected to introduce the Punjab Common Infrastructure (Regulation and Maintenance) Amendment Bill, 2026, one of the key legislative proposals scheduled for the session.
Opposition Prepares to Corner Government
The eight-day session is expected to witness heated debates, with the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gearing up to question the government on several contentious issues. These include the state’s law and order situation, the ongoing drug menace, alleged examination paper leaks, farmers’ concerns, rising public debt and the proposed legislation relating to sacrilege cases.
Sacrilege Law Amendment May Not Come Up
Although the issue of stricter legislation against the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji remains politically significant, indications suggest that the government may not introduce any amendment during the current session.
The development comes after the Akal Takht recently constituted a committee comprising religious and legal experts to examine the issue and hold consultations with the Punjab government. With discussions expected to continue over the coming weeks, the government appears inclined to wait before taking any legislative decision.
Akal Takht’s Directions Likely to Echo in House
The Assembly session is also expected to witness discussion over the recent directives issued by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, who declared Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as “Panth Doshi” and instructed Sikh legislators not to address or look towards the Chief Minister during Assembly proceedings.
Political observers believe the opposition may raise the issue during the session, while attention will also remain on how Sikh MLAs respond to the religious directive inside the House.
With legislative business and political confrontation expected to run side by side, the Monsoon Session is likely to be marked by intense debates on governance, public welfare and Punjab’s evolving political landscape.
