Chandigarh, October 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Monday accused the BJP of targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann through “back-channel” tactics, alleging that the recent CBI-ED action against members of the Punjab government team was part of a broader pattern ahead of elections.
Pannu claimed the BJP was unable to challenge Mann politically and was therefore attempting to target his government through central investigative agencies. He also alleged that similar tactics had been used against elected governments in Delhi before elections.
“The BJP is conspiring to defame CM Bhagwant Singh Mann before the elections. The BJP cannot fight the Punjab Chief Minister politically and is therefore attempting to target him through back channels,” Pannu said.
He alleged that the BJP had failed to find anything against Mann and was consequently resorting to such tactics.
Pannu further accused the Centre of creating obstacles for Punjab by withholding funds, including those related to flood relief, while asserting that the Mann government had continued its welfare programmes by efficiently managing state resources.
He cited 600 units of free electricity, daytime power supply for farmers, canal water reaching around 83 per cent of agricultural land, ₹10 lakh cashless healthcare and financial assistance to women through bank accounts among the schemes being implemented by the state government.
“Whether it is 600 units of free electricity, daytime power supply for farmers, canal water reaching around 83% of agricultural land, ₹10 lakh cashless healthcare or financial assistance reaching women’s bank accounts, the Bhagwant Mann Government has continued to deliver,” he said.
Pannu alleged that the Centre’s objective was to disrupt the delivery of these benefits and create a negative political narrative against the Punjab government.
“The honest government led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has not only continued these schemes through its own resources, but has run them in a better manner,” he said.
He further alleged that targeting members of the Chief Minister’s team was part of a wider pattern adopted by the Centre in states approaching elections.
“Wherever elections take place, the same tactics are adopted by the Centre. The names and cases may be different, but the method remains the same,” Pannu said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora said the state government would challenge the Punjab and Haryana High Court order in the Supreme Court.
The AAP leaders’ statements came amid the party’s allegations that central agencies were being used to put pressure on the Punjab government ahead of the elections.
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