Punjab CM attacks Akali Dal over BJP alliance negotiations

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a political offensive against the Shiromani Akali Dal on Wednesday, accusing its leadership of compromising principles in pursuit of an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaking at a public gathering in Majitha, Mann contrasted what he characterized as the previous administration's approach with his government's policy agenda.

Mann claimed residents of Majitha were prepared to "write a new political chapter" under his governance. He attributed earlier political turmoil to what he described as a regime marked by "FIRs, hooliganism and fear," a reference to the Akali Dal-led government that preceded his Aam Aadmi Party administration.

The Chief Minister highlighted his government's policy accomplishments, citing job creation, educational institution expansion, healthcare facility development, and road infrastructure projects as evidence of a development-focused approach. These claims formed the cornerstone of Mann's argument for electoral continuity in the state.

The remarks reflect intensifying political competition in Punjab ahead of electoral contests, with Mann positioning the AAP as a governance alternative focused on public welfare over political dealmaking.