Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Tuesday that rumours of rift within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were “false” and that Delhi’s expertise would be used to make Punjab a national model for the party.
The remarks by the senior AAP leader came after Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that “over 30 AAP MLAs were in touch with his party” following AAP’s debacle in the Delhi Assembly poll.
In the 2022 Punjab Assembly election, AAP wrested power from the Congress by winning 92 of the 117 seats. The Congress won 18 seats, while the Shiromani Akali Dal has three MLAs.
Mr. Mann, who met AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal at his residence at Ferozeshah Road along with legislators from Punjab, said the AAP government was actively working for the public through subsidised electricity and improving education, healthcare, infrastructure, and roads.
“In Delhi, over the past ten years, our government has carried out unprecedented work so much so that people still say they had never seen or heard of such progress before AAP came to power. Wins and losses are part of the journey, but we will apply Delhi’s experience in Punjab. We have already established over 850 Mohalla Clinics, revamped hospitals, and launched schools of eminence, where students excel in competitive exams,” Mr. Mann told mediapersons after the meeting.
The Punjab CM said that the party’s workers are fully dedicated and will not be swayed by any temptations.
“We must work together. Our party is known for its commitment to public service, not caste, religion, hate, or money-driven politics. Today, our entire Delhi team was also present here [Kejriwal’s residence], and we have resolved to make Punjab a model state in the remaining two years of our government’s tenure. Be it cities, villages, businesses, shops, or farmers, we will develop Punjab and show it to the entire country,” he said.
Responding to claims by Congress that he might leave AAP, Mr. Mann said, “What difference does it make what he [Congress’s Bajwa] says? We have built this [AAP] party with our blood and sweat. Leaving is out of the question. The real issue is that party-hopping is a culture within their [Congress] ranks. One of their leaders was beating drums, claiming that AAP had lost; on the other hand, people were commenting that Congress itself had scored zero and was still celebrating.”
He also said AAP’s poll promise in Punjab of giving ₹1,000 per month to women will be implemented soon.
Also Read | Delhi election result: Kejriwal, Atishi meet newly elected AAP MLAs, ask them to work for people
‘New Punjab CM’
Meanwhile, BJP leader and MLA-elect from west Delhi’s Rajouri Garden Manjinder Singh Sirsa took a jibe at Mr. Kejriwal for holding a meeting with Punjab MLAs. “He [Kejirwal] is dreaming of becoming Punjab Chief Minister. Just like a fish out of water, he cannot live without power or luxury,” Mr. Sirsa alleged.
“The people of Punjab are self-respecting and have mellowed the arrogance of many, so he [Kejriwal] should stop dreaming of becoming Punab’s CM,” he added.
AAP’s Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal also took a dig at Mr. Kejriwal, saying, “Some people have started treating Punjab as their personal ATM. Today, massive corruption is rampant in Punjab. There is blatant sand mining at different places and corruption in transfer postings. The people of Punjab and several MLAs are angry. Kejriwal has appointed his goon Bibhav Kumar as the chief advisor of Punjab CM.”
Published - February 11, 2025 12:57 pm IST
