Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to visit New Delhi on Wednesday for meetings with senior Union ministers, even as political friction between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and the BJP-led Centre continues to intensify.
The visit comes at a time when relations between the two parties have become increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp political exchanges over recent developments in the state. The AAP leadership has accused the Centre of targeting its leaders through investigative agencies, while the BJP has stepped up its political outreach in Punjab in recent months.
Officials said Mann will hold discussions with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding delays in several highway-related infrastructure projects across Punjab. The Chief Minister is expected to raise concerns over the slow pace of work on roads, bridges and culverts connected to national highways, which the state government believes is affecting connectivity and economic activity.
In another key meeting, Mann will interact with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to seek approval for a state law aimed at curbing the sale of fake and low-quality seeds. The Punjab Assembly had earlier passed the Seeds (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposing stricter punishment against those involved in selling spurious seeds to farmers.
The proposed legislation seeks to classify such offences as cognisable and non-bailable, with penalties including imprisonment ranging from one to three years and fines that may extend up to Rs 50 lakh. Since agriculture-related seed regulations fall under central legislation, the Bill requires approval from the Union government before implementation.
The meetings are being closely watched in political circles, especially after recent tensions escalated following the exit of several AAP Rajya Sabha members and continued allegations by the ruling party in Punjab of political pressure from the Centre.
Despite the ongoing political confrontation, the Punjab government maintains that the Chief Minister’s Delhi visit is focused on securing pending approvals and resolving issues linked to infrastructure and agriculture in the state.
