Ludhiana, January 8: Riding on a sweeping victory in the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced that the Punjab government will launch a full-scale offensive against gangsters, on the lines of its ongoing anti-drug campaign, asserting that the state has broken free from coercion-driven politics.
Addressing newly elected local body representatives alongside Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Kejriwal said the party’s win of over 70 percent seats reflected public endorsement of clean governance. “These elections were completely fair. Not a single vote was shifted. Even ruling party candidates lost by one vote in some places. That itself proves there was no pressure or manipulation,” he said.
Calling the exercise Punjab’s cleanest local body election, Kejriwal said previous governments relied on booth capturing and intimidation to win. “If we wanted to misuse power, it would have taken just one phone call. But AAP was not formed for coercion or corruption. We came to change politics,” he said.
The AAP leader said the government had already shown resolve through the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign. “More than 28,000 cases have been registered and over 400 drug traffickers are in jail. Now, after drugs, we will dismantle gangster networks in Punjab. They will not be spared,” he asserted.
Kejriwal also credited the mandate to governance outcomes, including free electricity, waiver of old power dues and timely payment of salaries. “Earlier people showed electricity bills of ₹10,000 for one-room houses. Today, they are getting zero bills,” he said.
Urging the newly elected members to stay grounded, Kejriwal warned against arrogance. “Arrogance destroyed Congress and the Akali Dal. If you serve people with humility, tickets will come to you automatically. If you chase money, your political career will end,” he said.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said AAP’s governance had forced traditional parties to rethink their politics. “Education, health and electricity are part of political discourse today only because of AAP,” he said, adding that the local body victory was earned through direct engagement with voters.
Mann also took a swipe at opposition parties, saying they lacked leadership and direction. “They are waiting for power without an agenda. People know their past role and will not give them another chance,” he said.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said the mandate reflected trust in the government’s development agenda. “The soul of Punjab lies in villages. You now carry the responsibility of transforming rural Punjab,” he told the representatives.
