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Punjab CM Mann says BJP-Akali alliance depends on farm laws
Sandy Verma | September 3, 2026 9:24 AM CST

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will enter into an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) only if the latter agrees to the passage of three farm laws he described as “black laws.”

Speaking at a Lok Milni event in Sangrur on September 3, Mann alleged that the BJP is exploiting communal divisions to secure votes. He also claimed that the BJP’s victory in Panjab University polls, which he said had Akali Dal support, revealed a nexus between the two parties.

Contrasting this politics with his government’s performance, Mann stated that Punjab is advancing rapidly in development, particularly in schools, hospitals, electricity, water and roads.

He accused the Akalis of maintaining an anti-Punjab stance by collaborating with forces hostile to the state’s interests. Mann said, “Akalis are ready to join hands with the saffron party for the sake of power, despite the fact that the BJP-led government was responsible for the martyrdom of more than 700 farmers during the agitation against the draconian farm laws. This shows that the Akali leadership has no ideology left and is ready to compromise the interests of Punjab for power.”

The Chief Minister warned that if voted to power, the SAD-BJP alliance could reimpose the farm laws on farmers. He stated that the Shiromani Akali Dal leadership was “on its knees” to form an alliance with the BJP ahead of the state Assembly elections.

“The Akali-BJP alliance has no ideology and no agenda for public welfare. Its sole objective is to grab power in Punjab. The people of Punjab will not be misled by the political tantrums of these parties and will teach them a befitting lesson in the coming days,” Mann said.

He predicted that Punjabis would reject the Akalis and BJP due to their perceived wrongdoings against Punjab and its people, citing the large public presence at the Lok Milni as evidence of public readiness to “write a new story in 2027.”

Highlighting government achievements since taking office in 2022, Mann said, “The government had focused on holistic development and introduced reforms across power, sports, education, healthcare and other key sectors.” He added, “Today, after four-and-a-half years, I am standing before the people after fulfilling every single promise made to them and delivering all the guarantees.”

Mann criticized previous administrations for fostering an atmosphere of fear, trauma and drug- issues affecting Punjab’s youth. He stated that the people of Punjab would not forgive the Congress, Akalis, and BJP for their anti-Punjab policies and would consign them to political oblivion in the 2027 Assembly elections.

“These traditional political parties had always protected each other’s interests while in power,” Mann observed, accusing them of playing “musical chairs” and concealing misdeeds. He said, “Now the people have elected AAP and the broom is cleansing the political system of Punjab.”

On the drug menace, Mann alleged that the traditional parties inflicted irreparable harm on the youth and identified those responsible for enabling the drug trade. He asserted that parties promoting the drug trade must not return to power to prevent further exploitation of Punjab.

Targeting Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann claimed he is disconnected from Punjab’s realities due to his privileged background. “Sukhbir Singh Badal is a convent-educated political leader who does not know the basic topography of Punjab but wants to rule the state. Leaving everything else aside, he cannot even differentiate between the basic crops of Punjab because he has little understanding of the basic issues faced by the people,” Mann stated.

The Chief Minister accused the Akalis of committing a “genocide of generations” by promoting the drug trade, alleging that official vehicles have been used for drug distribution and that religion was exploited for political gain. “Using religion for vested political interests is an unpardonable sin,” he said. Mann added that Akali leaders plundered Punjab’s wealth and were seeking an alliance with Delhi to exploit the state once more, contrasting their self-interest with the Aam Aadmi Party’s commitment to Punjab and its people.

He also criticized infighting within the Congress, saying while Congress leaders contend for political power, his government works tirelessly for public welfare. “They are squabbling among themselves for power, while we are working tirelessly to make Rangla Punjab. Our fight is for quality education, good healthcare and welfare schemes for the people,” Mann stated.

Mann described Congress as a divided house with no vision for Punjab, alleging its only objective is to seize power and plunder state wealth. “It is a pity that senior Congress leaders who come to Punjab claiming to unite the party’s leaders are not even aware of how to pronounce their names. Their dreams of returning to power will never be fulfilled,” he added.

He likened Congress and Akali Dal leaders to termites that have ruined Punjab since Independence, noting their silence on each other while criticizing his government: “Punjabis know the anti-people stance of these parties. They have never been loyal to Punjab and its people.”

Mann outlined his government’s welfare-led governance, emphasizing that over 90% of Punjab households receive free electricity and farmers get daytime power supply. “The tax money of the people belongs to the people. We are spending it judiciously on their welfare. People’s money is returning to the people through development, schools, hospitals and roads,” he said.

The government has reportedly provided free electricity to households, secured government jobs for more than 70,000 youth in a corruption-free manner, improved roads, eliminated toll plazas saving Rs 70 lakh per day, and strengthened education and healthcare infrastructure.

Mann added that the state is investing in village development and constructing 3,100 sports stadiums to promote healthy activities and combat drug abuse among youth.

Regarding healthcare, Mann said the government launched the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, which entitles every family in Punjab to cashless medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh. He described the scheme as “a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country” that has significantly reduced the financial burden on families while ensuring access to quality care.

Additionally, under the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, women over 18 receive financial assistance: Rs 1,000 per woman and Rs 1,500 for Scheduled Caste women. Funds are transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, including those already receiving social security pensions. The scheme is expected to benefit around 97% of women in Punjab, with a budget allocation of Rs 9,300 crore.

Mann called this one of the largest social welfare schemes globally, empowering women through direct financial support. To date, 70.92 lakh women have received benefits, while 5.20 lakh recent registrants have received Rs 181.50 crore.

He stressed the government’s focus on education as a key instrument against poverty and social issues. Mann cited initiatives such as teacher training and Schools of Eminence, stating that Punjab had surpassed Kerala and others in education. He highlighted a rise in government school students passing NEET exams from 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026, attributing this to improved governance.

On agriculture and infrastructure, Mann announced that canal water reached 1,587 villages for the first time in Punjab’s history. The government has renovated and upgraded 45,000 kilometers of roads and invested Rs 7,200 crore to expand canal irrigation, increasing coverage from 26% to 80% of agricultural land between 2022 and 2026.

“In 2022, only 20 lakh 89 thousand acres received canal water, whereas today canal irrigation has reached 60 lakh 30 thousand acres. This is the change that our government has brought to Punjab,” said the Chief Minister.


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