Many ministers and MLAs including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Assembly Speaker Kulatar Singh Sandhwa, to stop the speculation arising after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defeat in the Delhi assembly elections, met party convenor Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi on 8 February Ki, then three days later a meeting was held at Kapurthala House.
After the crushing defeat in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal will expose his interference in the ‘AAP government’ or Bhagwant Mann will find a new way for himself? This question is echoing in the political corridors of Punjab. Discussion between AAP leaders and opposition leaders is common that Kejriwal will be the biggest challenge to preserve the interference in the politics of Punjab.
Till now, Chief Minister Mann has been considered as a mask of Dummy CM i.e. Kejriwal. All the important decisions of the party organization in the Punjab government and the state are taken directly from Delhi. Party supremo Kejriwal has also been deciding the appointments of top officers. In March 2022, the people of Punjab formed the government with an unexpected majority led by Bhagwant Mann, but questions have been raised continuously about the autonomy of Mann as Chief Minister.
A senior AAP leader says on the condition of anonymity, “After the defeat of Delhi, Kejriwal will try to increase his grip and interfering in Punjab. This may make the situation uncomfortable for Bhagwant Maan. ” Therefore, the biggest question in front of Mann is whether in the changed situation, he will be able to strengthen his position within the party regardless of Kejriwal or will adopt a different path like Eknath Shinde of Maharashtra.
Dr. Gurjit Pal Singh of the Department of Political Shatra of Punjabi University, Patiala, which has been monitoring the politics of Punjab for the last four decades, says, “Bhagwant Mann is still popular in Punjab. If Kejriwal enhances control of them, then he can adopt a different route with his supporters-legislators. In these circumstances, the main opposition party Congress here will try its best to capitalize on this development. ”
Punjab BJP state president Sunil Jakhar told Outlook, “Kejriwal’s Delhi model has proved to be a flop by selling ‘Delhi model’ in Punjab three years ago. Kejriwal, despite losing himself, enhances his interference in Punjab, then the AAP leadership of Punjab will be forced to take some big decision. ”
Political analyst and senior journalist Harpreet Kaur believes, “The BJP, which has been weak in Punjab due to agricultural laws, will leave no stone unturned to capitalize on AAP crisis.” If the BJP succeeds in creating a new place for itself in Punjab before the 2027 assembly elections, then the biggest shock will be the Akali Dal. The Akali Dal will now face new political threat from the BJP. ”
Political analyst Manmohan Chadha believes that “the BJP will now try its best to dent the Akali Dal’s vote bank.” If Bhagwant Maan and you are weak, it will be a golden opportunity for the BJP. “
In Delhi, how far the echo of AAP’s defeat will go in Punjab, it will tell only the time to come, but it is certain that now the politics of Punjab is standing at a new turn. On February 11, the meeting of AAP MLAs was called in Delhi to find a way out.
