Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday dismissed speculations about his removal from office following AAP’s Delhi election debacle and Arvind Kejriwal’s defeat in his constituency. Addressing the media after an AAP meeting in Delhi, attended by Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Punjab MLAs, and other key party leaders, Mann laughed when asked about the claims.
The meeting of Punjab MLAs at Delhi’s Kapurthala House gained attention after BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that Arvind Kejriwal was attempting to replace Bhagwant Mann as Punjab CM. In a video statement, the newly elected Rajouri Garden MLA claimed that Kejriwal was branding Mann as “incompetent” to shift blame for the party’s electoral loss.
“After losing the Delhi elections, Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting of Punjab MLAs in Delhi. Reports suggest that he is trying to remove @BhagwantMann Ji from the CM post by branding him as incompetent. He failed to fulfill his promise of giving Rs 1,000 to women, was unsuccessful in curbing drug abuse and has worsened Punjab’s situation. Now, he wants to put all failure on Bhagwant Mann. He is making AAP Punjab MLAs say that Kejriwal is a ‘good man’ and should be made Chief Minister instead,” Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.
ਅਸੀਂ ਜਦੋਂ ਵੀ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਲੜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਕੰਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਆਧਾਰ ‘ਤੇ ਲੜੀਆਂ ਹਨ, ਪਰ ਵਿਰੋਧੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਦਿੱਲੀ ‘ਚ ਧੱਕਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਹੱਦਾਂ ਪਾਰ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ। ਫ਼ਿਰ ਵੀ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਜੋ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਫ਼ਤਵਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਉਹ ਸਿਰਮੱਥੇ ਹੈ।
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हमने जब भी चुनाव लड़े हैं कामों के आधार पर लड़े हैं, लेकिन विपक्षियों ने दिल्ली में अन्याय… pic.twitter.com/aVTWkKfzSW— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) February 11, 2025
Bhagwant Mann’s Response to BJP’s Allegations
When asked about these claims, Bhagwant Mann simply smiled and said, “Let them say.” He reiterated that the Punjab government would fulfill its promise of giving Rs 1,000 every month to women, a key election promise made by AAP.
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that over 20 AAP MLAs in Punjab were in touch with him and could switch parties soon. Reacting to this, Mann mocked the Congress, recalling that they had scored zero seats in Delhi for the third consecutive time.
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਾਡੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਬਣਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਅਸੀਂ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਗਰਾਊਂਡ ‘ਤੇ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ 2 ਸਾਲਾਂ ‘ਚ ਅਸੀਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਖੇਤਰ ‘ਚ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਮਾਡਲ ਸੂਬਾ ਬਣਾਉਣਾ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਸਾਡੇ ਵਲੰਟੀਅਰ ਪੂਰੀ ਮਿਹਨਤ ਨਾਲ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਲੋਕ ਸੇਵਾ ‘ਚ ਲੱਗੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ।
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पंजाब… pic.twitter.com/bWU2UC7xpw— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) February 11, 2025
“Partap Bajwa has been saying this for nearly three years. Ask him to count the number of (Congress) MLAs in Delhi for the third time,” Mann said, ridiculing the Congress’s poor performance.
He also dismissed speculation about leaving AAP, saying: “Let them talk. We have built this party with our blood and sweat. Actually, they have a culture of switching sides… One of their leaders was beating a dhol to celebrate AAP’s defeat. Someone asked him if he was celebrating Congress’s zero score.”
With AAP holding 93 seats and Congress only 16 in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, Congress’s claim of MLA defections seemed unlikely.
AAP’s Punjab Meeting Focuses on Future Plans
Addressing the Punjab MLAs’ meeting, Bhagwant Mann clarified that Arvind Kejriwal had convened it to thank party workers for their grassroots efforts in Delhi. He emphasized that electoral wins and losses are part of politics and that AAP would now focus on transforming Punjab into a model state.
“We accept the people’s mandate in Delhi, now we plan to make Punjab a model state,” Mann stated.
Ludhiana Central MLA Ashok Prashar also dismissed rumors about Mann’s removal, stating: “In the meeting, Kejriwal told us we must take the party forward in Punjab. There will be no change in Punjab.”
On Congress’s claims about AAP MLAs defecting, he retorted: “The Congress must take care, what if the few they have come to us.”
AAP Remains Firm in Punjab
Despite the Delhi election loss, AAP appears determined to solidify its governance in Punjab. While speculations continue over internal party dynamics, Bhagwant Mann remains unshaken, focusing on delivering promises to Punjab’s voters.
