Mansa, Jun 24 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday expressed confidence that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would return to power in the 2027 Assembly elections with an even bigger mandate, claiming that people have endorsed the government’s welfare-oriented and development-focused policies.
Addressing a public interaction programme (Lok Milni) at Dharampura village in the Budhlada Assembly constituency of Mansa district, Mann said the state’s progress over the last four years had strengthened public trust in the government.
“The verdict of 2027 is already visible. People have decided to bring AAP back to power. The party will win more seats than it did in 2022 because people are satisfied with the work done by the government,” he said.
The chief minister said his government had delivered on its promises and accelerated development across sectors such as healthcare, education, electricity, infrastructure and women’s empowerment.
He added that efforts were being made to transform Punjab into a “Rangla Punjab” by bridging developmental gaps left by previous governments.
Mann said the AAP government was the first in the country to implement its election manifesto in letter and spirit and convert people’s demands into government policies and programmes.
Targeting previous governments, Mann alleged that former chief ministers remained disconnected from the common people and focused on personal wealth instead of public welfare. “My predecessors lived in luxury and remained inaccessible to ordinary citizens. They built huge fortunes while neglecting the people. Ultimately, voters rejected them,” he said.
The chief minister claimed that traditional political parties had lost public support because of their past performance.
“People have shown the door to those who looted Punjab turn by turn. The public is no longer influenced by their propaganda and empty promises,” he said.
Mann also launched a sharp attack on opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that they had joined hands because they could not challenge AAP politically.
“The Akalis, Congress and BJP have ganged up against us because they know they cannot compete with AAP on the basis of governance and development,” he said.
Without naming anyone, Mann accused opposition leaders of spreading misinformation and attempting to defame him through fake videos generated using artificial intelligence.
The chief minister further alleged that the Akali leadership had patronised mafias and failed to protect Punjab’s interests during its tenure in power.
He also criticised the Congress, claiming that the party was plagued by internal divisions and lacked a vision for the future of Punjab.
On the issue of Punjab’s river waters, Mann reiterated his government’s commitment to protecting the state’s rights.
“Neighbouring states wanted to take Punjab’s waters, but our government took a firm stand and ensured that not a single drop was diverted. No one will be allowed to usurp Punjab’s rights,” he said.
Describing himself as a guardian of Punjab’s interests, Mann said any attempt to deprive the state of its rightful resources would be strongly opposed.
Highlighting welfare measures introduced by the government, the chief minister said more than 90 per cent of households in Punjab were receiving free electricity.
He added that farmers were now getting daytime power supply, which had helped improve agricultural operations.
Mann also highlighted the state government’s decision to acquire a private thermal power plant, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening Punjab’s power sector.
Speaking about healthcare initiatives, he said the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna’ was providing cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh to every resident family in Punjab.
According to him, the scheme is among the most comprehensive healthcare programmes in the country and has already enabled people to receive free treatment worth more than Rs 650 crore.
“The scheme has reduced the financial burden on families and ensured access to quality healthcare services,” he said.
On women’s welfare, Mann announced that eligible beneficiaries would begin receiving financial assistance directly in their bank accounts from July 1.
He said women belonging to general categories would receive Rs 1,000 per month, while women from the Scheduled Caste categories would receive Rs 1,500 per month under the scheme.
The chief minister said nearly 97 per cent of women in Punjab were expected to benefit and that the government had allocated Rs 9,300 crore for its implementation. Mann said the initiative was aimed at promoting financial independence, dignity and self-respect among women.
“Women play a vital role in society and deserve economic security and respect. This assistance will strengthen their financial autonomy and improve the welfare of families,” he said.
The chief minister added that previous governments had ignored such welfare measures and failed to address the aspirations of the youth and weaker sections of society.
He claimed that Punjab was emerging as a leading state in sectors such as healthcare, education and startups and cited initiatives like the Sadak Surakhya Force, free power supply and infrastructure improvements as examples of the government’s efforts to boost economic growth and improve public services. PTI VSD KSI KSI
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