Maverick Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira keeps party leaders, opponents on edge

Congress Bholath legislator Sukhpal Khaira has dominated the proceedings of the ongoing Punjab Budget session for reasons other than the debate on the floor of the House.

Seen as a maverick politician, Khaira keeps not only his political opponents but his own party leaders in their toes. Within the Congress, he at times adopts an independent political discourse.

Last week, Khaira made a social media post mocking women seen celebrating the state government’s Rs 1,000 monthly financial assistance scheme under the ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan’ scheme. The post suggested that women “dancing” for the amount could not be expected to “give birth to brave sons”.

The episode has disrupted the proceedings of the House over the last three days, with AAP legislators (especially women legislators) repeatedly seeking his expulsion from the House for lowering dignity of women.

But this is not the first time that the maverick MLA has clashed with fellow MLAs as well as within his party. In 2018, he clashed with the party leadership for apologising in a defamation case involving Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia. In 2017, Khaira faced summons in connection with a drug-related investigation. He denied wrongdoing and despite no conviction, he was politically targeted.

Over the years, his confrontational style has frequently placed him at the centre of proceedings in the Punjab Assembly.

A senior Congress politician, who did not wish to be quoted, said “Whether you agree with him or not, Khaira ensures the Assembly debate doesn’t remain dull. He garbs headlines much to the annoyance of the ruling dispensation.”

Unlike many politicians who remain tied to one party, Khaira has shifted from the Congress to AAP to the Punjab Ekta Party and then returned to the Congress.