Cleared divided between two Opposing groups, the main Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday faced embarrassing moments during the on-going session with the rival parties taking potshots at AAP over lack of unity in the 20-member legislature party.

With the eight member group led by Sukhpal Singh Khaira refusing to co-operate with the new leader of Opposition (LoP), Harpal Singh Cheema, question were even raised if the new LoP commands support of the majority of AAP MLAs.

Though unlike the opening day of the session on Friday when Khaira group refused to take the back seats allotted to them by the Speaker on Cheema’s recommendation, the rebel group’s eight members took their respective seats in-between the 12 AAP MLAs who have refused to join the rebel group. But both groups gave cold response to each other as they took their seats.

When new LoP, Cheema rose to raise an issue, his predecessor and AAP MLA from Bholath, Khaira also rose to raise some issue, making it impossible for the former to keep his point effectively.

Even as Cheema was speaking, Khaira group along with former ally Lok Insaaf Party’s two legislators took to the well of the House raising the issue of Punjab’s river water being supplied to neighbouring states for free.

In fact, the Khaira group stood on the floor of the House right in front of Cheema, thus making it impossible for him to speak. The ruling Congress and other opposition party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, took pot-shots at AAP over this in-fight in the House.

The SAD legislator, Vikram Singh Majithia, urged the Speaker to suspend the AAP legislators as they were determined to not to let each other speak in the Assembly. “They won’t play or let others play,” he said.

The Parliamentary affairs minister, Brahm Mohindra, too questioned the AAP legislators for not letting the LoP speak. “I wonder if there is a split in the party (AAP),” he said while urging the Speaker, Rana KP Singh to find out if this was the case.

After the Khaira group staged a walk-out on the water issue, Mohindra again asked the Speaker if the new LoP enjoys the majority support. “Is the leader of Opposition in minority? You should clarify,” he asked the Speaker who however came to the rescue of Cheema and said according to him, the LoP enjoys majority as most of AAP legislators are with him.