Archive · 5 Oct 2026
AAP Suspends Punjab MLA Amid School Criticism and Teacher Protests
An AAP lawmaker named Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana said some government schools in Punjab do not have enough teachers.
He said he had asked party leaders to fix the problem but had not seen a solution.
AAP suspended him, saying he had acted against the party, and denied his allegations.
Around 180 teachers and their family members also protested in Chandigarh.
They want changes to pay, job security and decisions about their recruitment.
The teachers say they were dismissed and later returned to work after a court order.
Opposition parties criticized the government over the disputes.
The disagreement is happening while AAP faces other tensions in Punjab.
AAP suspended Maur MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana on October 3, 2026, citing alleged anti-party activities after he publicly criticized teacher shortages in government schools.
Maiserkhana said he had repeatedly raised the issue with party leaders, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Manish Sisodia, without getting it resolved; AAP rejected his allegations.
Around 180 Elementary Teacher Training teachers and family members protested in Chandigarh over recruitment, reinstatement, regularisation, pay scales and service benefits.
The teachers said they were reinstated after a court order following dismissal over alleged recruitment irregularities, and called for action over what they described as manipulation of the recruitment process.
Opposition parties criticized the AAP government, while the dispute comes amid other reported party tensions and the departure of seven of AAP’s 10 Rajya Sabha MPs to the BJP.
- Who
- AAP MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana, the AAP leadership and protesting Elementary Teacher Training teachers.
- What
- AAP suspended Maiserkhana after he criticized teacher shortages; teachers separately protested over recruitment, reinstatement, regularisation, pay and service benefits.
- When
- Maiserkhana was suspended on Saturday, October 3, 2026; the teachers protested on September 21, after an earlier protest on August 22.
- Where
- Punjab, including protests outside AAP leader Manish Sisodia’s residence in Chandigarh.
- Why
- Maiserkhana said schools lacked teachers and his appeals had not been addressed; teachers said they were seeking action on recruitment concerns, pay differences and service conditions.
Critics and protesters
AAP and its response
Teacher shortages and school conditions
Critics and protesters
Maiserkhana said government schools lacked teachers and that his repeated requests had not led to action. Opposition figures also cited his criticism as evidence against AAP’s claims about education.
AAP and its response
AAP rejected Maiserkhana’s allegations as false and suspended him, citing alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline.
Teachers’ employment and pay demands
Critics and protesters
The protesting teachers said recruitment problems, pay differences and limited benefits remained unresolved. They also alleged that a department clerk manipulated the recruitment process and that the government was protecting the official.
AAP and its response
The article reports the teachers’ allegations and demands but gives no direct response from the AAP government on these specific claims.
Public dissent within AAP
Critics and protesters
Congress and other opposition voices portrayed the suspension and other disputes as signs of poor governance and limited room for dissent.
AAP and its response
AAP general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat said dissatisfied leaders should raise concerns within the party and that public dissent could lead to disciplinary action.
- Suspended MLA
- Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana, representing Maur
- AAP's stated reason
- The party cited alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline.
- Issue raised by Maiserkhana
- Teacher shortages in government schools, including a School of Eminence attended by his child.
- Teacher protest
- Around 180 Elementary Teacher Training teachers, accompanied by family members, protested outside Manish Sisodia’s Chandigarh residence on September 21.
- Earlier protest
- An August 22 demonstration outside Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema’s residence ended with police detentions, according to the article.
- Teachers' demands
- Their demands include recruitment-related action, reinstatement, regularisation, pay parity and service benefits.
- AAP parliamentary defections
- Seven of AAP’s 10 Rajya Sabha MPs crossed over to the BJP in April, according to the article.
