Twenty-seven Congress MLA from Punjab slept in the House on Monday night after losing a no-confidence motion against the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP coalition. A report by the Hindustan Times said the Speaker had refused the legislators' demand for a renewed discussion on the motion, in which the MLAs were criticising the ruling coalition for the state's drug and law-and-order problems.

Leader of the Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi said, “They kept switching off our lights and air-conditioners. We have no food and water. But we are fighting for Punjab and will not let the government browbeat us," Hindustan Times reported.

Assembly staffers reportedly left the premises at 1am and television channels showed the protesters talking and fanning themselves as they used the light from their mobile phones to illuminate the place. Wednesday is the last day of the Assembly session before the state elections next year.

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State Congress leader Amarinder Singh sent the protestors food from KFC, while the party office members arranged for food from another local eatery later on. Singh will meet the protesters to show his support. He said, “It was totally undemocratic on part of the Speaker not to allow the discussion on anarchy, lawlessness and serious issues the state is facing under the SAD-BJP rule.”

The Congress has 42 seats in the House, but the protest was mainly led by its younger members.