AAP suspends Punjab MLA after he raises concerns over teacher shortage

The Aam Aadmi Party has suspended Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana, its MLA from Punjab’s Maur constituency, after he publicly criticised an alleged shortage of teachers in government schools. Maiserkhana raised the issue on Saturday, saying repeated requests to fill vacant teaching posts in parts of his Bathinda constituency had not produced a solution. The party announced his immediate suspension from primary membership, citing anti-party activities and indiscipline.

AAP said the legislator had attempted to defame the party by making false statements about the functioning of a government school. The action came as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann highlighted his administration’s education record and claimed it had delivered more development than earlier Congress and Akali governments. Maiserkhana said he had turned to social media after becoming frustrated by the lack of response to his grievance.

In an emotional video, he said he was speaking for schools, his children and families who send their children to government institutions. He also claimed that his son attended a School of Eminence and his daughter attended a government primary school. He said he expected to be denied a ticket in the next election but would continue raising issues affecting constituents.

The party rejected his claims about the School of Eminence at Ram Nagar in Bathinda. It cited a September 29 record showing 30 sanctioned teaching posts, of which 25 were filled, and said the school had 580 pupils in 19 sections from Classes 6 to 12. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the suspension exposed what he called the weakness of the government’s education campaign.

The dispute follows an earlier case involving former AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who had also criticised the government’s education claims and was later suspended.