Chandigarh: On the eve of the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stepped up his offensive against opposition parties, accusing them of raising allegations out of fear of an impending loss in the countryside.
Addressing party workers and supporters, Mann mocked the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, saying their recent complaints reflected nervousness rather than genuine concerns. Using his characteristic earthy humour, the chief minister took a swipe at the Congress over the controversy surrounding claims of money being exchanged for leadership positions.
Mann also levelled strong accusations against the Akali Dal, claiming the party’s politics had become synonymous with criminality. He alleged that intimidation tactics were being used at the local level and pointed to what he described as questionable candidate selections in recent by-elections.
Referring to allegations of electoral manipulation raised by former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Mann dismissed claims of pre-marked ballot papers as baseless. He argued that such statements were being made only because opposition leaders had already sensed defeat. “If the government was misusing its position, opposition parties would not have been able to field such a large number of candidates,” he said.
Citing election data, Mann said the Aam Aadmi Party had nominated candidates for all 347 Zila Parishad seats and across every Panchayat Samiti constituency. In comparison, he noted, Congress, the Akali Dal, the BJP and the BSP had fallen short of contesting all available seats. He also pointed out that several Congress and Independent candidates had already secured victories without a contest, undermining claims of unfair practices.
The chief minister further alleged that opposition parties were quietly backing joint candidates in several villages in an effort to counter AAP’s growing influence. Despite this, he expressed confidence that voters would back his party, which he described as consistent and trustworthy.
Highlighting his government’s record, Mann said rural voters had responded positively to initiatives such as the revamp of government schools, the expansion of mohalla clinics, large-scale road construction and improvements in irrigation through canal networks.
As campaigning drew to a close, Mann maintained that the panchayat elections would serve as a referendum on his government’s performance, predicting a strong mandate for AAP in Punjab’s villages.
