Tarn Taran, November 8 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann struck an emotional chord during a roadshow in Tarn Taran on Friday, declaring that the upcoming November 11 bypoll is not about power but about securing the next generation’s future.
“I am not the Chief Minister; I am the Grief Minister,” Mann told a cheering crowd, standing atop a jeep beside Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu. “I have come not to rule but to share your pain and happiness.”
As he spoke, chants of Inquilab Zindabad filled the air, turning the political roadshow into a moment of collective emotion. Mann’s appeal carried a deeply personal tone as he recalled his own rural upbringing — cycling to school and riding atop overcrowded buses to reach college. “I have lived the same life as you,” he said. “That is why I understand the struggles of farmers, the sweat of workers, and the worries of every household.”
Mann said his government’s record proves his words. He pointed out that during the devastating floods earlier this year, compensation of ₹20,000 per acre was paid within 45 days, and relief reached every affected household before Diwali. “We acted not like rulers, but like family,” he said.
Highlighting what he described as his administration’s honest governance, Mann noted that 90 percent of households now pay zero electricity bills due to free power up to 300 units a month. “We’ve given 56,000 government jobs through transparent recruitment — no bribes, no recommendations,” he said, adding that new schools and Aam Aadmi Clinics have brought education and healthcare to villages, while action against drug traffickers has intensified.
“Old parties gave Punjab nothing but corruption, drugs, and unemployment,” Mann said. “We’ve shown that honesty and hard work can bring real change.”
The Chief Minister accused opposition parties of having “ruthlessly looted” the state and now resorting to empty criticism. “They have no issues left, so they attack for the sake of attacking,” he said.
Mann ended his speech urging voters to treat the bypoll as a moral decision rather than a political one. “This November 11 is not just an election day — it is a test of trust,” he said. “You must choose whether to stand with someone who shares your pain, or with those who only seek power. Our victory will be your children’s victory.”
