Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Rallies Support for AAP Candidate in Tarn Taran, Says Next 18 Months Will Decide District’s Future

Punjab, Oct 2025 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that the next one and a half years would determine the future of Tarn Taran, urging voters to support Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu in the upcoming by-election on November 11. Addressing a massive public gathering, Mann said the by-election was not just another political contest but a test of truth and development.

“Those who were ousted from their cushy chairs by the people are desperate to get them back,” Mann remarked. “They are calling it the ‘2027 semi-final,’ but this is not a cricket match—this is a vote for honesty, progress, and Punjab’s future.” The by-election was necessitated by the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal earlier this year.

Recalling the troubled past of Tarn Taran, the Chief Minister said the district had endured immense pain and loss, with its youth falling prey to violence and drugs. “Earlier governments pushed our young people towards gangsterism and threatened ordinary citizens with false FIRs. But in the last three and a half years, not a single fake case has been registered,” he asserted.

Taking aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mann accused it of destroying its own alliances. “Look at Chautala, Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Nitish Kumar—all who aligned with the BJP eventually disappeared. Whoever joins them loses their identity. AAP is the only party that truly belongs to the people,” he said, adding, “If others had fulfilled their responsibilities, AAP would not have been needed.”

Mann was accompanied by AAP’s Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, state party president Aman Arora, and Tarn Taran candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu. Several cabinet ministers, MLAs, and senior party leaders, including Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and Working President Amnsher Singh Sherry Kalsi, also attended the rally.

Continuing his attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann accused him of taking credit for every government project in Punjab. “He claims every road, bridge, and market was built by Badal Sahib. If that’s true, then why does he fall silent when he crosses Bargari and Kotkapura?” Mann asked, referring to the 2015 police firing incidents.

Highlighting his government’s achievements, Mann said that the AAP administration had provided over 55,000 government jobs purely on merit, reduced electricity bills to zero for nearly 90% of households, distributed free medicines through Aam Aadmi Clinics, and introduced a ₹10 lakh health insurance scheme. He also cited that the state’s Road Safety Force (SSF) had successfully reduced road accident deaths by 48%, a figure acknowledged by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Parliament.

Mann announced plans to return to Tarn Taran on October 26 for a large-scale road show to boost AAP’s campaign. Urging the people to vote wisely, he said, “On November 14, the EVMs will reveal who the people trust most. If you believe I care about your future and your children’s future, press the ‘Jharu’ (broom) button without hesitation.”

Meanwhile, Manish Sisodia called upon AAP workers to work tirelessly for Sandhu’s victory, saying, “This election is not just about one seat—it’s about strengthening Bhagwant Mann’s mission to make Punjab drug-free and prosperous.”