A day after the BJP said the ‘lotus’ will now bloom in Punjab after its strong performance in West Bengal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday hit back, saying Punjab is not a truck that now someone else’s turn has come to drive it. Mann also said the BJP may end up winning no seats in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Buoyed by its strong performance in the Bengal Assembly elections, Punjab BJP said on Monday that the party will also capture Punjab in the 2027 polls.
Reacting to this, Mann said, “Punjab is not a truck that now someone else's turn has come to drive it. It is Punjab. Whenever the country faces any crisis, it is Punjab which stands at the forefront.” He said the responsibility to stop the BJP now lies with Punjab.
“They claim it's Punjab's turn; is the BJP trying to intimidate us by suggesting that? It's a misunderstanding on their part. They currently only have two MLAs in Punjab and may end up with none in the next election,” said the AAP leader.
Mann was speaking to the reporters after meeting President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi. He demanded the cancellation of membership of six Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab who had joined the BJP after defecting.
He accused the BJP of ignoring Punjab’s key issues, including matters related to the Bhakra Beas Management Board, water sharing, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and funds for rural development and the National Health Mission.
"Have they advocated for any interests of Punjab? Ever since we enacted the strict anti-sacrilege law, they have been talking about weakening the Bhagwant Mann government … conducting 'Operation Lotus' or spreading rumours that 60-65 AAP MLAs are in their support. They should see all the MLAs are present here," Mann said.
Mann said the BJP should not even think of winning Punjab, the land of five rivers. He said people in the state know the “real face” of the BJP and will give it a strong reply.
Mann alleged that the BJP, after repeated losses in Punjab, is now trying to weaken a corruption-free government through pressure, inducements, and attempts to break MLAs. He said AAP is rooted in people’s support and committed to a clean and reform-driven approach. “These tactics will not work in a democracy where people of Punjab are supreme. Punjabis will give them a fitting reply,” he said.
On his meeting with the President, Mann said in a post on X that they raised concern over what he called the “murder of democracy” in the country. He said the breaking of political parties and misuse of Central agencies like ED and CBI to target opposition leaders is an attack on democracy. Mann said “Operation Lotus” will not succeed in Punjab.
He said AAP MLAs represent the voice of people and Punjab will not tolerate betrayal. He assured that the party will continue to fight to protect the people’s mandate and constitutional values.
Also read: Mann urges Prez to cancel membership of defected AAP MPs
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