‘We will create such a Punjab model that the whole country will see…’, said Bhagwant Mann after meeting with Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. (Photo: X/@AAP)

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke to the media about the meeting held at Kapurthala House. He said that the Punjab unit of AAP had worked hard during the Delhi elections, for which Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia thanked the leaders of Punjab.

Arvind Kejriwal Meeting with Punjab AAP Unit: Aam Aadmi Party sources say that this meeting was called to discuss the Delhi assembly elections and to take feedback from Punjab leaders. More than 200 leaders, including Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, his cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs and AAP state unit officials, were camping in Delhi for weeks for election campaigning.

Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, his ministers and AAP MLAs-MPs of the state at Kapurthala House in Delhi on Tuesday. Manish Sisodia was also present in this meeting. Kejriwal had called this meeting of his leaders of Punjab amid the discussion of growing internal discontent in the state unit of the party. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke to the media about the meeting held at Kapurthala House and told what was discussed with Arvind Kejriwal.

We will create such a Punjab model that the country will see: Mann

Bhagwant Mann said that the work done in Delhi during the 10-year rule of the Aam Aadmi Party, so much work has not been done in the last 75 years. Victory and defeat are part of electoral politics. We will use the experience of Delhi in Punjab. We respect the mandate of Delhi. We will develop Punjab as a model state. We will create such a Punjab model that the whole country will see. We have to focus on development work. We come from a simple background. We will work in the direction of how to win the hearts of more and more people. Big companies have started investing in Punjab – including Grasim and Tata Steel.

He said, ‘The entire cabinet of Punjab and all our MLAs had a meeting with our party’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal at Kapurthala House. The Punjab unit of AAP had worked hard during the Delhi elections, for which Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia thanked the leaders of Punjab. Our government in Punjab is doing a lot of work in the interest of the people. Whether it is in the field of electricity, education, health and infrastructure. We have to give more speed to these works, Mann added. ‘

What did CM Mann say on speculations of leaving AAP?

On Pratap Singh Bajwa’s claim that 30 MLAs of Aam Aadmi Party are in touch with Congress, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, ‘He has been claiming for the last three years that 30-40 MLAs of AAP are in touch with his party. Let him keep making such claims. He should first count the number of Congress MLAs in Delhi, leaving aside the AAP MLAs.’ Many Congress leaders claimed that Bhagwant Mann is in touch with the Union Home Ministry and can rebel against AAP at any time. When asked about this, the Chief Minister of Punjab said, ‘Let him speak – he can continue making such false claims.That kind of culture is in his party, that’s why he makes such claims. We have built this party by shedding our blood and sweat. Therefore, the question of leaving it does not arise.

Let us inform you that more than 200 leaders including Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, his cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs and AAP state unit officials were camping in Delhi for weeks for election campaign. Party sources said that the agenda of the meeting was to analyze the Delhi election results and formulate a strategy for the Punjab assembly elections to be held in early 2027. At the same time, opposition parties – Congress and BJP have claimed that former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal is preparing to remove Bhagwant Mann from the post of Punjab CM.

Bajwa himself may join BJP: AAP MP

Aam Aadmi Party leader Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that Pratap Bajwa himself may join BJP. How does Bajwa know about these details (on the claim that 30 AAP MLAs are in touch with Congress)? Probably he is in touch with the Home Ministry. His own brother is in BJP. Bhagwant Mann will remain the Chief Minister in Punjab, no change is going to happen.

Bajwa should stop daydreaming: Punjab AAP chief

Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab unit president Aman Arora, while reacting to Pratap Singh Bajwa’s claims in a conversation with Aaj Tak, said, ‘Bajwa should stop daydreaming. When his own brother joined BJP, was he in touch with him, or was he in touch with Congress MLA Chabewal who joined AAP?’ On the claim of Congress leaders that Bhagwant Mann is in touch with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Aman Arora said – these are mere speculations. On BJP’s claim that Kejriwal wants to become the Chief Minister of Punjab, AAP’s Punjab president said, ‘Such claims have no relevance. These are all fabricated stories. Arvind Kejriwal has entrusted us with the responsibility of working in Punjab.

Aam Aadmi Party’s Sangrur MLA Narinder Kaur Bharan has challenged Pratap Singh Bajwa. Talking to the media, she said, ‘All the AAP MLAs of Punjab are in Delhi today, what is Bajwa waiting for? Take the MLAs who are in touch with you with you. Congress has failed to open its account in Delhi and is spreading such lies.

Although the Aam Aadmi Party is calling it an organisational meeting, it has fuelled speculation of unrest in the party over the failure to fulfil election promises in Punjab and growing tension between Kejriwal and Mann. Opposition parties have also questioned the meeting of Punjab government representatives being held in Delhi. The Congress alleges that Punjab is being governed not by Bhagwant Mann but by Arvind Kejriwal sitting in Delhi. Meanwhile, BJP leader Tarun Chugh has claimed that the countdown of the Mann government in Punjab has begun. Delhi BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa has warned Bhagwant Mann that Kejriwal is planning to remove him from the post.

Pratap Bajwa claims a split in AAP

Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa said, “More than 30 AAP MLAs in Punjab are in touch with us.” While Congress MP from Gurdaspur Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa predicted mid-term elections. He said, “It depends on how many AAP MLAs switch sides. Congress is the only option for AAP MLAs as BJP has no future in the state.’

AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang said, ‘Partap Singh Bajwa is dreaming impossible dreams – just like Mungerilal. His own brother (Fatehjung Bajwa) joined BJP.’ Senior AAP spokesperson Neel Garg accused Manjinder Singh Sirsa of ‘spreading rumours’ to please the BJP leadership. He said, ‘Bhagwant Mann is leading a stable government in Punjab. Sirsa should now worry about fulfilling BJP’s pre-poll promises in Delhi.’
Cabinet meeting not held in Punjab for 5 months

After Kejriwal called a meeting, the Punjab government on Monday postponed the cabinet meeting, which was to be held after about 5 months to decide the dates of the state’s budget session. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said, ‘Delhi got rid of AAP and now Punjab also wants to get rid of it. Bhagwant Mann government has failed to deal with liquor, sand and mining mafia in Punjab.