Akali leadership on ‘knees’ to forge alliance with BJP: Punjab CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) alleged that the Shiromani Akali Dal leadership was “on its knees” to forge an alliance with the BJP and return to power in the state to “loot” it again, as speculation over a possible tie-up between the two parties ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls grows.

Addressing a ‘Lok Milni’ gathering at Chawinda Devi, Mr. Mann said the people of Punjab would never forgive the BJP-Akali combine for allegedly pushing the state into the drug menace and ruining it.

He said the people of Majitha were now ready to write a new political chapter, contrasting the politics of “FIRs, hooliganism and fear” under previous regimes with his government’s record of providing jobs, schools, hospitals, roads and development.

Mr. Mann also attacked the Akalis over the sacrilege issue and claimed that his government had provided 70,000 government jobs solely on merit, with “no cash, no farmaish” (no bribe, no recommendation).

He said government schools had been transformed to such an extent that students were now qualifying for the JEE and NEET examinations.

Mr. Mann alleged that the Akali leadership was desperate to return to power and was seeking an alliance with the BJP for that purpose.

“For this purpose, they are begging to join hands with the BJP leadership to plunder the state, but the wise people of Punjab will once again oust them. Punjabis will send the Akalis and BJP into political oblivion due to their sins against the state and its people,” he said.

“Earlier only one family ruled Punjab. They kept people as their slaves, treated them like animals and ruined countless families. However, after assuming office in 2022, our government focused on the holistic development of Punjab and initiated reforms in power, sports, education, health and other key sectors,” he said.

Mr. Mann said that after four and a half years in office, he was standing before the people after fulfilling every promise and delivering every guarantee made by his government.

He alleged that during the previous regime, drugs were supplied in official vehicles, while drug smugglers were now being put behind bars.

Targeting both the Congress and the Akali Dal, Mr. Mann alleged that the two parties had collectively damaged Punjab since Independence.

“The Congress and Akali Dal were termites that ruined Punjab and caused the state to lag behind on the path of progress. Their leaders never speak against each other, but they spit venom against me every day because I have exposed them before the people. These are the traitors who have never been loyal to Punjab and its people,” he said.

Lashing out at the Akali leadership, Mann said SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal remained disconnected from the realities of Punjab.

“Throughout his life, Sukhbir Singh Badal has lived in a secured environment surrounded by luxuries and opulence. He is a convent-educated political leader who is not aware of the basic topography of Punjab but wants to attain political power here.

“Leaving everything aside, the former deputy chief minister cannot even differentiate between the basic crops of the state because he has scant knowledge about the issues faced by ordinary people,” he said.

Taking a swipe at the Congress, Mann said the party was on its “death bed” and would soon become “politically irrelevant”.

“The Congress has no vision for Punjab or its people. Its only aim is to plunder the wealth of the state by assuming power, but those dreams will never be fulfilled. The Congress is a divided house and will collapse because of its infighting,” he alleged.

He also targeted the central leadership of the Congress, saying, “It is a pity that the top Congress leaders who come to unite these leaders squabbling for power are not even aware of how to pronounce their names.”