Punjab AAP Expels MLA Sukhveer Maiserkhana After Teacher Shortage Dispute
Maur MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana faces party action after publicly raising concerns about vacancies in government schools
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has expelled Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana, its MLA from Punjab’s Maur Assembly constituency, after he publicly raised concerns over the shortage of teachers in government schools. The development has drawn attention because the MLA had been speaking about an education issue affecting schools in his own constituency, including a government school attended by his children.
According to the party action reported on October 3, 2026, AAP accused Maiserkhana of involvement in anti-party activities, spreading false rumours and damaging the party’s image. The move came shortly after the MLA posted an emotional video in which he questioned the government over the continued shortage of teachers.
The episode has placed the focus not only on the political dispute but also on the larger issue of teacher vacancies in Punjab's government education system.
What Did Sukhveer Maiserkhana Say?
Maiserkhana, a first-time MLA from Maur, recently went live on social media for more than 14 minutes and spoke about the shortage of teachers in government schools.
During the video, he said that he had repeatedly raised the issue with senior party leaders and government authorities. He also referred to discussions involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, saying that the problem had continued despite his efforts to bring attention to it.
The MLA became emotional while discussing the education of children in his constituency. He particularly highlighted schools where teachers were not available in adequate numbers and questioned why students should face the consequences of staff shortages.
Maiserkhana also stressed that his concerns were not simply about his political future or the possibility of losing a party ticket. His central argument was that the education of children should receive priority.
The issue attracted additional attention because Maiserkhana has previously been identified as an AAP legislator who sent his own children to government schools.
Why His Children's Schooling Became Important
Earlier this year, The Indian Express reported that Maiserkhana was the only AAP MLA among those with school-going children whose children were studying in Punjab government schools during the 2025-26 academic year.
His son was studying at a government School of Eminence near Maur, while his daughter attended a government primary school. Maiserkhana had explained that his family chose government education because they wanted their children to remain connected with their local community and Punjabi language.
That background makes his recent criticism particularly significant in the education debate. His public comments were not limited to an abstract policy issue; he was also raising concerns about schools used by families in his constituency.
However, it is important to distinguish the documented facts from political interpretations. The AAP's stated reason for expelling him relates to alleged anti-party conduct, false rumours and damage to the party's image. Reports have linked the timing of the action to his public criticism over teacher shortages, but the party's stated allegations should not automatically be treated as proof that the teacher shortage issue itself was the formal reason for his expulsion.
Punjab Government Schools Face Significant Vacancies
The controversy comes against the backdrop of officially reported teacher vacancies in Punjab.
In August, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains told the state Assembly that 31,370 teaching posts were vacant across different cadres in government schools. The largest number was in the Master Cadre, with 20,378 vacancies out of 59,513 sanctioned posts. There were also 7,259 vacancies in the primary cadre and 3,733 vacant lecturer positions.
The government has argued that recruitment and promotions are being used to address the shortage. Bains said that a court-related issue affecting Master Cadre promotions had been cleared and that the government intended to fill a large proportion of the vacancies through promotions and fresh recruitment.
This provides important context to Maiserkhana's criticism: teacher shortages are not merely an allegation made during the current political dispute. The state government itself has acknowledged a substantial number of vacant teaching posts.
Another Challenge: Teachers Being Used for Non-Academic Work
Punjab's education debate has also involved another issue — the deployment of teachers for duties unrelated to classroom teaching.
In September, hundreds of government school teachers in Punjab were reportedly assigned duties connected with ration-card verification in Ludhiana. The issue prompted objections from teachers because such assignments can take staff away from schools and classroom responsibilities.
More recently, Punjab Education Secretary Sonali Giri directed Deputy Commissioners to stop assigning government school teachers to non-academic and administrative duties except those specifically permitted under law, such as election-related work, census duties and disaster management.
The order stated that repeated withdrawal of teachers from schools could affect classroom teaching, academic continuity and students' learning.
This means the current controversy is taking place within a wider discussion about both the number of teachers available and how existing teaching staff are being utilised.
What Happens Next?
Maiserkhana's expulsion adds a political dimension to an issue that already has an administrative and educational side. The immediate question is how the party and the MLA respond after the action, while the larger question concerns how quickly Punjab can address vacant teaching posts and ensure that teachers remain available for classroom duties.
For students and parents, the practical issue is less about the political dispute and more about whether schools have adequate teaching staff, consistent classroom instruction and the resources required for effective education.
The controversy therefore highlights a broader challenge for Punjab: government school reforms depend not only on infrastructure and new initiatives but also on having enough teachers in classrooms. The official vacancy figures, the government's recruitment plans and the recent restrictions on non-academic teacher deployment will be important factors in assessing how the situation develops.
For now, the expulsion of Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana has brought renewed public attention to Punjab's teacher shortage debate, just as the state prepares for another politically significant period ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
