Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday indicated that the Punjab assembly elections might be advanced to November 2026, instead of the scheduled February 2027, citing "inputs" available to him.
Addressing a roadshow in Bathinda to celebrate AAP's recent municipal corporation poll gains, Kejriwal said the party must prepare swiftly to retain power, with "barely four months" left if elections are indeed preponed. He expressed confidence that Bhagwant Mann would return as chief minister.
On a three-day visit to Punjab, Kejriwal said the coming contest would be a four-cornered fight and took a swipe at rivals, branding them as the "chitta party", "jhagra party" and "ED party". He alleged that drug abuse expanded under one party, internal infighting marked another, and the third misused central agencies against opponents. In contrast, he described AAP as a "kattar imandar" (completely honest) party deserving another mandate.
CM Mann Highlights Government Achievements
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann, also addressing the gathering, highlighted the state government's performance over the past four years, citing initiatives such as free electricity, cashless healthcare, financial assistance to women and expanded irrigation through canal water. He claimed that, for the first time in decades, paddy transplantation is being widely supported by canal water, aided by higher Bhakra levels.
Punjab AAP in-charge Manish Sisodia, state president Aman Arora and Punjab Cricket Association president Amarjit Mehta accompanied CM Mann and Kejriwal during the roadshow.
