BJP holds its first political conference at Maghi Mela, targeting AAP and Congress; leaders urge Punjab voters to support BJP in 2027 Assembly polls.
Manpreet Singh Badal and Preneet Kaur appealed to the gathering to support the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections for a stable and prosperous Punjab.
Chandigarh: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday organised its first political conference at the historic Maghi Mela in Sri Muktsar Sahib, signalling a shift in the party presence in Punjab’s political space.
Senior leaders used the platform to appeal for a BJP led government in the state in 2027. Their speeches largely targeted the ruling AAP and the Congress, while the Shiromani Akali Dal was notably spared from direct criticism.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini urged people of Punjab to choose a double engine government, saying it would help in better delivery of promises. He claimed Haryana was buying 24 crops at minimum support price and had already completed 53 of the 217 promises made in its manifesto within one year. Drawing a comparison with Punjab, he said the state was lagging behind. He also alleged that during recent floods in Punjab, when Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was admitted to hospital, Haryana extended help like a younger brother to affected farmers.
Former Union minister Anurag Thakur said Punjab had fought the Mughals and the British in the past and was now facing a new fight against drugs and lawlessness. He also attacked AAP leadership, referring to what he called the K Company in a swipe at party chief Arvind Kejriwal.
State BJP president Sunil Jakhar and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu launched a sharp attack on the Mann government. Bittu accused the Chief Minister of spending four years in false claims and humour instead of governance. He alleged that the government had failed to control the drug problem and had pushed the state into a debt burden of Rs 4.17 lakh crore.
Former state president Ashwani Sharma claimed that extortion calls had become a booming activity in Punjab. He said the state needed a strong Chief Minister to restore law and order.
National general secretary Tarun Chugh accused AAP of pursuing an anti Sikh agenda. He alleged that Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi were working to weaken the dignity of Sikh institutions and Gurus.
Several leaders also raised the issue of alleged corruption in the MGNREGA scheme and defended the decision on its renaming. Manpreet Singh Badal and Preneet Kaur appealed to the gathering to support the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections for a stable and prosperous Punjab.
