Chandigarh, May 2 -- The confidence motion moved by the Bhagwant Mann government was unanimously passed in the Punjab assembly on Friday, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs reaffirming that they stand like loyal soldiers of the party. This comes a week after seven AAP Rajya Sabha members defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The chief minister moved the confidence motion during the special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, called to commemorate the International Labour Day. "There are rumours that AAP will be finished and its MLAs would switch sides, and such rumours create an illusion in people's minds," Mann said in the House, while moving the motion.

The motion was passed unanimously in the absence of opposition members. While...