Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a sharp attack on opposition parties following the civic body election results in the state. Addressing a press conference, Mann claimed that parties which secured even the fifth position were celebrating victories, while more than 1,100 candidates lost their security deposits in the elections.
The Chief Minister said both the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal continued to rely on their “old excuses” and remained stuck in traditional politics. Responding to allegations of electoral irregularities, Mann questioned how Congress managed to win in Chamkaur Sahib if there had really been any manipulation in the voting process.
Taking aim at the BJP, Mann accused the party of using central agencies for political purposes. He said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had been active in Punjab for a long time and alleged that agencies were constantly working against his government. “That is why I call them the ED Party. Now they will function only through the ED,” he remarked.
Mann also targeted the BJP’s Punjab leadership, claiming there was internal dissatisfaction within the party over the appointment of its state president. He alleged that senior leaders including Manpreet Singh Badal, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa and Amarinder Singh were unhappy with the decision.
He further claimed that the internal conflicts earlier seen in Congress would now emerge within the BJP as well, adding that political developments in the party would continue to generate headlines in the coming days.
