In a strong political assertion following the Aam Aadmi Party’s decisive performance in Punjab’s Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann underlined that the state has firmly moved away from an era marked by fear, political intimidation, and manipulated elections. Addressing newly elected representatives at a large gathering in Ludhiana, the leadership described the results as a public endorsement of clean governance and transparent politics, while announcing that the government will now intensify its crackdown on organised crime, gangsters, and the drug network entrenched in the state.
Arvind Kejriwal said the party’s victory in over 70 percent of local body seats reflected not the misuse of power, but the trust of the people in honest administration. He remarked that Punjab had witnessed one of the cleanest local elections in its history, with no reports of booth capturing, coercion, or vote manipulation—practices that had long been associated with rural elections in the state. Drawing a contrast with previous regimes, he recalled how ruling parties in the past had relied on force and pressure to secure victories soon after coming to power, whereas the current government allowed free competition even after completing four years in office.
Kejriwal pointed out that in hundreds of seats the margin of victory was extremely narrow, including several where opposition candidates won by just one vote, a situation that would have been unthinkable in earlier political environments. He said this demonstrated that the AAP government deliberately chose not to interfere in the democratic process, despite having the administrative authority to do so. According to him, the party was formed to change the culture of politics, not to replicate the practices of traditional parties.
The AAP chief linked the election outcome directly to governance performance, stating that people had voted for timely salaries, improved public services, and relief from everyday hardships. He highlighted that state employees now receive salaries on time every month, a significant change from earlier periods when delays were common. Referring to power sector reforms, he said free electricity for households had ended the burden of inflated bills that once plagued ordinary families, calling it one of the most tangible benefits experienced by voters.
A major focus of Kejriwal’s address was Punjab’s long-standing drug crisis. He accused previous political establishments of allowing drug trafficking to flourish due to political patronage and criminal links. According to him, the ongoing anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashean Virudh, was the result of firm political will, and not cosmetic action. He said thousands of cases had been registered and hundreds of traffickers jailed, stressing that the second phase of the campaign would go deeper into villages to ensure public participation and awareness. He warned that a return of old political forces would reverse these gains and once again push Punjab’s youth into addiction.
Kejriwal also announced that after drugs, the government would launch a focused campaign against gangsters and organised crime networks. He said the administration would act decisively to dismantle criminal ecosystems that thrive on fear and extortion, adding that law and order reforms would be pursued with the same determination shown in the anti-drug drive.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann echoed these sentiments, stating that Punjab’s political discourse had fundamentally changed due to AAP’s governance model. He said issues like education, healthcare, employment, and electricity had moved to the centre of public debate, forcing even opposition parties to reshape their agendas. Mann congratulated the newly elected representatives, noting that local body elections were harder to win than larger polls because they required sustained grassroots engagement.
Addressing a separate issue related to Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated his deep respect for Sikh institutions, stating that he would present himself before the Takht as a humble Sikh, not as a chief minister. He emphasised that any direction issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib would be accepted with complete sincerity, underscoring that faith and humility remained above political position for him.
Mann also took a swipe at opposition parties, particularly the Akali Dal and Congress, accusing them of lacking vision and leadership. He said the shrinking presence of these parties in public discourse reflected growing disillusionment among voters, who were now drawn towards governance rooted in service rather than dynasty politics.
Senior AAP leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, addressing the gathering, said the local body election results reflected people’s confidence in the government’s development-oriented approach. He assured elected members that there would be no shortage of funds for rural development and urged them to work closely with panchayats to strengthen healthcare delivery and welfare schemes at the village level.
Both Kejriwal and Mann stressed that the responsibility now lay with the newly elected representatives to remain grounded and accessible. They cautioned against arrogance and corruption, warning that political success in AAP depended solely on public service and performance. Kejriwal concluded by stating that Punjab’s future leadership would emerge from among those who dedicate themselves to honest work, suggesting that the next generation of state leaders could very well be seated among the newly elected representatives.
The meeting signalled a clear message from the AAP leadership: that Punjab’s politics is entering a phase where governance, accountability, and people-centric policies will define electoral success, while criminal influence and fear-based politics will face sustained resistance from the state machinery.
