CM Mann lashes out at possible BJP-Akali tie-up, calls past regimes corrupt
AMRITSAR — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership of being "on its knees" in attempts to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to return to power and plunder the state. Speaking at a Lok Milni public meeting in Chawinda Devi, the chief minister contrasted his government's performance with what he described as the record of previous administrations.
Mann said his government, which assumed office in 2022, had prioritised development across sectors including power, sports, education and health, and had converted promises into delivery. He claimed that his administration had provided 70,000 government jobs "solely on merit, with no cash, no farmaish" — a formulation he used to underline that recruitment was free of bribery and patronage.
"For this purpose, they are begging to join hands with the BJP leadership to plunder the state, but the wise people of Punjab will once again oust them,"
Mann alleged that during former regimes, the drug trade thrived with alleged complicity at high levels, saying drugs were even transported in official vehicles. He said the present government had initiated action against smugglers, adding that those involved in the trade were now being arrested and prosecuted.
Promises, performance and political context
The chief minister framed his remarks in electoral terms, pointing to speculation about a BJP-Akali alliance ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Mann warned voters that the BJP-Akali combination bore responsibility for the drug menace and other social ills and urged Punjabis to reject any return of those parties to power.
While attacking the Akali leadership, Mann also took aim at the Congress and invoked the sacrilege incidents that have shaped Punjab's politics in recent years. He said public anger against past rulers, who he claimed ran a near-dynastic control over the state, would prevent them from regaining office.
Government achievements highlighted
In defending his administration's record, Mann highlighted improvements in public services and outcomes for students. He said government schools had been so transformed that pupils were now qualifying for engineering and medical entrance exams such as the JEE and NEET, marking a shift from past performance.
The chief minister also emphasised infrastructure and employment gains, repeating his assertion that the government's guarantees had been fulfilled during its four-and-a-half years in office.
- Claimed deliveries: 70,000 government jobs on merit
- Sectoral focus: power, sports, education, health
- Law-and-order: action against alleged drug smuggling in official vehicles
Local reaction and likely political impact
Mann's remarks come as state politics gears up for the next assembly elections, with parties recalibrating strategies and alliances. The chief minister's direct attack on the possibility of a BJP-Akali partnership seeks to galvanise his base by invoking governance and law-and-order themes that resonate with many voters in rural and urban Punjab alike.
Observers note that allegations of corruption, nepotism and the drug scourge have long been central to Punjab's political discourse. Mann's emphasis on merit-based recruitment and service delivery aims to contrast his government's claims of reform with the narrative of older parties returning to power for personal gain.
| Area | Claim by CM Mann |
|---|---|
| Employment | 70,000 government jobs on merit |
| Education | Improved government schools; students qualifying for JEE/NEET |
| Law-and-order | Action against drug smugglers; alleged prior use of official vehicles for trafficking |
What remains to be seen
Speculation about alliances and seat-sharing continues to shape party strategies in Punjab. The chief minister's accusations add pressure on the SAD and the BJP to respond publicly to both the charges and the larger question of their electoral plans. As political manoeuvring intensifies ahead of the 2027 polls, claims about past wrongdoings and present governance will be central to campaigning on the ground.
The immediate impact of Mann's assertions will depend on how opposition parties rebut the allegations and whether independent verifications of the government's claimed achievements — such as the scale and process of recruitments and educational outcomes — are produced ahead of the elections.
Reporting from Amritsar.
