All promises fulfilled, AAP will seek votes based on govt's development works: Bhagwant Mann

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said the Aam Aadmi Party will seek votes based on the government's development works, and ruled out that a probable SAD-BJP alliance could impact the party's prospects.

On Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian not being renominated for the 2027 Assembly elections, Mann said Khuddian will play a role in the party organisation, and it was a party decision.

Mann also ruled out that his wife Gurpreet Kaur was in the fray for the upcoming polls.


He said the AAP government has carried out all-round development in the state and fulfilled all promises it made to the people.

"We will go to the people based on the work we have done. We have to do positive politics. Our party was the first to announce tickets (71 of 117 seats) to candidates so that they can take our schemes and development works to people," he said.

When asked about the prospect of Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party forming an alliance ahead of the polls, Mann said even if they do, it would not pose a challenge to AAP.

"Zero multiplied by zero equals zero. Zero plus zero equals zero," he quipped.

In reply to another question, he said AAP had given adequate representation to women in the previous Assembly polls; in the upcoming elections too, a number of tickets were allotted to them.

When pointed out that Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has been replaced from the Lambi seat in Muktsar district and not renominated, Mann said these were party decisions.

"Khuddian will play a role in the party organisation. There are only 117 seats. Of the 31 seats announced on Thursday, 25 were given to newcomers," Mann said, adding that one has to abide by the decisions the party take.

"In 2017, my party told me to contest from Jalalabad, and I did. At that time, they had not declared me as a chief ministerial candidate, but in 2022 they did. So, these are party decisions. The party is supreme," he said.

Asked about the Central government's plan to convene a Special Session of Parliament to secure the passage of a Constitution amendment bill linked to the implementation of women's reservation, Mann said, "Under the garb of it, they want to bring in the delimitation bill. If they are so keen on implementing the delimitation bill, why don't they do it among the current strength of 543 (and not increase the number of seats in Parliament)?"

He explained, "In northern states where the BJP can win, they want to increase the number of seats. In the south, they want to cut seats. Last time, there was no consensus on the bill."

Mann said the ruling party cannot pass the bill "with jugaad", by taking Rajya Sabha members from other parties to increase its own strength.

On former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar's dare to AAP, wherein Jakhar said he was ready to take on Arvind Kejriwal or Manish Sisodia if they are fielded in the Assembly elections, Mann retorted, "Why would Kejriwal or Sisodia contest from Punjab? Will they fight elections here? They (BJP) should get treated at a good hospital."

On former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president set to leave SAD (Punar Surjit) and return to SAD, he said, "Actually, there is an internal fight. SGPC head H S Dhami and other members are saying that if Jagir Kaur is made the president, they will resign."

On the death threat and Rs 7 crore extortion demand received by Kejriwal and his daughter Harshita from a person claiming to be from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Mann said police have registered a case and begun an investigation.

Notably, Delhi AAP MLA Jarnail Singh had also lodged a complaint with Mohali Police, stating that on November 6, he received a call and a message on WhatsApp from an individual claiming to be a Bishnoi gang member.

Mann said Bishnoi is lodged in a Gujarat jail and even if Punjab authorities have to investigate him, they have to go there.

"Where is Lawrence Bishnoi lodged? They have made a rule that even if we have to investigate him, we have to go to that state," he said.