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Punjab: Bhagwant Mann govt completes 14 months, here’s what it got right

A former stage artist with only 10 years in active politics, Bhagwant Mann’s elevation to rule the state came as a surprise to many.

Published

3 years ago

May 19, 2023

Punjab: Bhagwant Mann govt completes 14 months, here's what it got right

The Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has completed 14 months in office. AAP came to power breaking the state’s five-decades’ tradition alternating between the Congress and the Akalis, becoming the first non-Congress, non-Akali party to form a government in Punjab.

In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, AAP won 92 seats of the total 117 seats in the state. The victory was AAP’s first-ever government formation outside Delhi.

The landslide sent out a message that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s popularity was increasing across the country, which was a point of concern for the national parties.

A former stage artist with only 10 years in active politics, Bhagwant Mann’s elevation to rule the state came as a surprise to many.

After Mann was declared AAP’s chief ministerial candidate, a large group of experts said Kejriwal had made a huge mistake in handling the responsibilities to Mann, who had no background in running an administration.

Political experts used to say, Mann is being handed with a state that has 23 districts, 237 towns, and 12581 villages. But the Punjab CM has come away looking the victor against these doubts of experts. Punjab faces many challenges, the biggest being sharing the border with Pakistan, a channel that is used to smuggle drugs, illegal arms and exports, a big threat for the state and for the country.

As Mann completes 14 months as Chief Minister, he seems to have had a clear thought to change all these narratives that were in the air linked to his name.

Let’s take a look on how Mann and his government has thrived so far

Tough on corruption

CM Mann has made a space for himself among the people and is often tagged as a man who is tough when it comes to acting against corruption.

Clean governance and taking a clear stand against corruption is what his government is known for, especially after the sacking of then Health Minister Vijay Singla, when corruption charges were levelled against him. And it was not just one man shown the door for corruption, another Punjab Minister Fauja Singh Sarari was also forced to resign over graft.

Mann has won wide-spread popularity for his government’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption. From political leaders to senior government officials, no one is spared in his regime even at the assistant inspector general of the police level, people have been sent to jail.

Agriculture

The recent passed budget of the government increased an outlay for crop diversification in the state, which was seen a major step taken in favour of the agriculture sector.

CM Mann also promised to include Moong dal under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme benefiting farmers growing the pulse.

Free Electricity

In just four months after coming to power, the government also fulfilled the manifesto promise of 300 units of free electricity.

Some of the other major decisions that have helped the Punjab governement get a pat on its back was introducing one MLA, one pension scheme, scrapping of load enhancement fee on tubewells, launching Aam Aadmi Clinics (a replica of the Mohalla clinics in Delhi) and such.

Mann re-introduced the old pension scheme scrapped in 2004, under which a retiree is entitled for 50-percent of his last drawn salary, a step that wooed the working government staff and the retired staff across Punjab.

The Mann government has also been decisive on clearing possession of illegally encroached government lands. Reports said the Punjab government has till now freed some 10,000 acres of encroached land.

On Friday, Mann announced another drive against illegal occupation on government encroached lands starting from June 1.

The Mann government is often charged by the opposition for leaving the administrative control of the state in Delhi (read Kejriwal) instead of keeping it in Punjab.

The Bhagwant Mann government’s good performance is crucial for the Aam Aadmi Party to expand its national footprint in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. It wants to do well in Punjab for Lok Sabha and the Haryana Assembly elections next year, which the AAP has been eyeing for long and expects a Punjab-like outcome as they are neighbouring states.

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Those who want to leave can go: Mamata Banerjee after Trinamool’s poll setback

Mamata Banerjee has told Trinamool Congress leaders that those who wish to leave the party are free to do so after its electoral defeat, as she pushes for organisational rebuilding.

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2026

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sent a strong message to party members amid internal unrest following the Trinamool Congress’ electoral defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections, saying those who wish to leave the party are free to do so.

The remarks come as the TMC grapples with its worst electoral performance in years and growing dissatisfaction within its ranks.

‘Will not stop anyone from leaving’

At a recent internal review meeting with party candidates, Banerjee reportedly told leaders that she would not attempt to hold back anyone planning to exit the party. She emphasised that the organisation would move forward with those who remain committed.

According to party sources, she said she would focus on rebuilding the organisation from the ground up, including restoring party offices and strengthening grassroots-level structures.

Push for rebuilding the organisation

Banerjee also called for detailed, area-wise reports from party workers and directed them to hold meetings at block and town levels to assess the reasons behind the defeat.

She further indicated that the party would undergo internal restructuring, with efforts aimed at reviving organisational strength at the local level.

Fact-finding teams and internal review

As part of the post-poll exercise, the Trinamool Congress has also set up multiple fact-finding teams to examine alleged irregularities in key districts.

These developments highlight growing internal churn within the party as it attempts to recover from its electoral setback and rebuild its support base.

India News

Abhishek Banerjee charged over alleged provocative speeches during Bengal polls

Abhishek Banerjee has been charged after a complaint alleged he made provocative remarks during the West Bengal election campaign.

Published

8 hours ago

May 16, 2026

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Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has been charged following allegations that he delivered provocative speeches during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign.

According to reports, the complaint was filed by a social worker identified as Rajiv Sarkar on May 5. The complaint alleged that the Diamond Harbour MP made inflammatory remarks at multiple campaign events held between April 27 and May 3.

The allegations also claimed that remarks made by Banerjee included threats directed at Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the heated election campaign in West Bengal.

Reports said the case was registered at the Bidhannagar North Cyber Crime Police Station. The development comes amid continuing political tensions in the state after the recently concluded Assembly elections.

The Trinamool Congress and the BJP have been engaged in sharp exchanges following the election results and subsequent allegations linked to violence and political targeting in different parts of the state.

India News

Congress ends Kerala suspense, VD Satheesan to be CM

Congress has named V D Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala, concluding its internal deliberations over the state leadership.

Published

2 days ago

May 14, 2026

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The Congress party has announced that V D Satheesan will be the next Chief Minister of Kerala, ending days of speculation over the leadership choice following the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) recent electoral victory.

The decision was taken by the party leadership after internal discussions and comes amid intense lobbying among senior leaders for the top post.

Leadership decision after prolonged suspense

According to reports, the announcement was made after a series of meetings within the Congress high command, which had been deliberating between multiple contenders for the chief minister’s post.

Satheesan, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, emerged as the final choice after discussions involving senior party leadership in Delhi.

Who is V D Satheesan

V D Satheesan is a senior Congress leader from Kerala and has been one of the party’s most prominent faces in the state. He has served as Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly since 2021 and has represented the Paravur constituency multiple times.

He is widely seen as a key strategist within the Congress-led UDF in Kerala.

Internal competition within Congress

The selection process had reportedly seen competition among several senior leaders, including K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, before the party finalized Satheesan’s name.

The delay in announcing the chief minister had led to speculation and political debate within Kerala’s political circles.

UDF returns to power in Kerala

The announcement follows the United Democratic Front’s electoral victory in the state, which ended the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) tenure in Kerala politics.

The new government formation is expected to take place soon after the formal swearing-in process is completed.