Chandigarh — Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and the Shiromani Akali Dal, accusing them of making baseless allegations to hide their failure to field strong candidates for the upcoming Panchayat Samiti and District Council elections scheduled for December 14.
Speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh, Mann directly retaliated against former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s recent allegations that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was printing pre-stamped ballot papers. He termed the charges “baseless and irresponsible,” questioning the opposition’s credibility.
“Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal couldn’t even find strong candidates to field in the elections and are now alleging they were prevented from filing nominations,” Mann said. “They have conceded defeat even before the fight began.”
AAP’s Dominant Ground Presence
The Chief Minister pointed to the overwhelming performance of unopposed candidates as evidence of the AAP’s superior organizational capacity. In Punjab’s Panchayat Samiti elections, 351 seats went unopposed due to a single candidate remaining in the fray—either because other nominees faced errors in their nomination papers or no other contestant emerged.
Of these unopposed seats, the AAP secured 340, independent candidates won 8, while Congress managed only 3 seats. Mann interpreted these numbers as a reflection of the opposition’s inability to mobilize candidates across the state.
“The figures speak for themselves,” Mann asserted, dismissing claims of institutional obstruction.
Questioning Opposition Strategy
Turning to Congress’s internal challenges, the CM referenced recent statements by Navjot Kaur Sidhu regarding the Chief Minister’s position. “These Congress leaders have turned politics into a marketplace and are busy quoting prices for the Chief Minister’s seat,” he said. “All the Congress leaders will end up sinking their own party.”
Mann also took aim at Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Badal, noting a dramatic shift in the party’s campaign approach. “The people have brought Sukhbir Badal down from his helicopter and onto the streets. The Badal family never took Panchayat Samiti elections seriously. Today, they are going from village to village campaigning. This is the power of the voters,” he stated.
Defending Electoral Process
When questioned about the opposition’s shifting grievances, Mann highlighted the contradiction in their complaints. “Earlier, Congress leaders questioned the credibility of EVMs. Now they have problems with elections being held using ballot papers,“ he said. “I ask Congress: how should elections be conducted? They need to be consistent in their positions.”
Mann termed the allegations against the electoral process as attempts to deflect from their weakness at the grassroots level.
AAP’s Development Pitch
Ahead of the December 14 elections, the Chief Minister made a direct appeal to voters to consider the party’s governance record alongside candidates. “The Aam Aadmi Party wants to take Punjab to new heights,” Mann said. “Other opposition parties only want to come to power for the sake of power and their own selfish interests.”
He emphasized that the AAP’s campaign focuses on addressing ground-level issues affecting citizens. “We are campaigning among the people, addressing their concerns. People have seen our work, and our entire focus is on the welfare of the people,” Mann added.
The Chief Minister called on voters to make informed choices in the District Council and Panchayat Samiti elections, which are seen as significant tests of the AAP government’s popularity ahead of the 2027 state assembly elections.
The Panchayat Samiti and District Council elections will be held on December 14 across Punjab, with results to follow in the coming days. The AAP government is banking on strong performance to consolidate its position in the state’s rural areas.
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