Has Kejriwal made up his mind to replace Chief Minister Mann in Punjab?

Onkareshawar Pandeya Punjaab September 20,2024

How did Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s health suddenly deteriorate at Chandigarh airport? Was he under the influence of alcohol, or was he under heavy mental pressure due to some instructions given by the party leadership? He was brought to Apollo Hospital in Delhi instead of Chandigarh and despite all this, the silence of AAP leaders says a lot.

Serious speculations are being made that Bhagwant Mann may be removed from the post of Chief Minister of Punjab. It is reported that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal is unhappy with Bhagwant Mann’s performance and he may be replaced after the Haryana elections. Obviously, this has once again raised many questions around Mann’s leadership.

Mann and the rise of AAP in Punjab
When Bhagwant Mann was handed the leadership of Punjab by Arvind Kejriwal in 2022, it was a move full of expectations. With a win of 92 out of 117 seats and a vote share of 42.1%, the historic victory of the Aam Aadmi Party was a significant political breakthrough. It was the party’s first full-fledged state government outside Delhi, and Mann, known for his charisma and popularity among the masses, was considered the best fit for the post of Chief Minister.
Mann, a comedian turned politician, has always been known for his people-oriented personality. When he took oath as the Chief Minister on March 16, 2022, at Khatkar Kalan village, it was a triumphant moment for both him and the party.

Big expectations and promises: Bhagwant Mann was expected to bring the Kejriwal model to Punjab, which included promises of free electricity, better healthcare services, job creation and solving the state’s infamous drug crisis. Slogans such as “Har khet ko pani, har hath ko kaam” (Water for every field, work for every hand) reverberated in Mann’s speeches during the election campaign. He also expressed his commitment towards a corruption-free Punjab and de-addiction.

His vision also focused on reviving Punjab’s agriculture, improving irrigation systems and supporting struggling farmers. He also promised to improve the state’s health and education infrastructure.

Promises vs. Reality
Initially, the government made some progress, but after two years, Mann’s government seems to be struggling to implement the desired reforms. Punjab’s complex socio-political situation, which includes issues such as border security, drug trafficking and agrarian crisis, has proven difficult to handle. This has resulted in disappointed voters and growing anxiety among the party’s top leadership.

Rise of Khalistan and Amritpal episode: One of the biggest challenges faced by Mann’s leadership has been the growing separatist elements in Punjab and the deterioration of law and order. Sharing borders with Pakistan makes Punjab vulnerable to terrorism, drug trafficking and separatist movements.

The emergence of Amritpal Singh, leader of the pro-Khalistan group ‘Waris Punjab De’, exposed the weaknesses of the government under Mann’s leadership. Despite several warnings, Amritpal Singh and his supporters continued to indulge in separatist activities, which eventually turned into a violent attack on the Ajnala police station. The Mann government’s slow response to this, and Singh’s long absence raised questions about the efficiency of the police.

Similarly, the RPG attack on the Punjab Police intelligence wing headquarters and the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala further weakened Mann’s leadership. In particular, the decision to withdraw Moosewala’s security a few days before his murder was seen as a major misstep, raising questions about Mann’s security management capability.

Drug Crisis – An Unfulfilled Promise: Bhagwant Mann’s promise to solve the drug crisis in Punjab is one of the most important and still unfulfilled promises of his government. Though the government has arrested more than 40,000 drug traffickers and seized more than 1,000 kg of heroin in 2022, drug addiction is still widespread in the state.

Mann had said, “We will not rest until every last drug supplier is in jail,” but Punjab’s youth are still plagued by the drug epidemic. Deep corruption in the police and politics has hampered efforts to curb drug trafficking and an effective rehabilitation plan has not been implemented.

Kejriwal’s shadow

One of the biggest criticisms of Bhagwant Mann’s leadership has been that he is too dependent on Arvind Kejriwal. Many political analysts believe that the real control of the Punjab government lies with the AAP leadership in Delhi. The appointment of Raghav Chadha as Mann’s advisor further strengthened the idea that Mann’s role is merely a figurehead and that government decisions are being taken from Delhi. This perception was further strengthened when Kejriwal met the Punjab chief secretary in Mann’s absence. For a proud state like Punjab, which prides itself on its political autonomy and Sikh pride, this idea was not acceptable.

Internal dissent and corruption allegations: Bhagwant Mann’s leadership is also being questioned within the AAP. Several prominent party leaders, such as Gurpreet Singh Khusal, Sandeep Singh, and Ranjit Singh, have resigned in recent years. These leaders disagreed with the party’s guidelines and challenged Mann’s leadership. In May 2022, Health Minister Vijay Singla was removed from the Cabinet over corruption allegations. Following this, Fauja Singh Sarari and Inderbir Singh Nijjar also resigned from their ministerial posts amid corruption allegations. These incidents further weakened the government’s image and dealt a blow to the party’s anti-corruption agenda.

Controversial statements and public gaffes
Mann’s public statements have also weakened his political position. During the farmers’ protest, he termed the Samyukta Kisan Morcha-led movement as “unfair and undesirable” and said that “not every protest is right; some are politically motivated,” which led to resentment among Punjab farmers, who were playing a key role in AAP’s success.
In March 2023, in the Punjab Assembly, Mann handed over the ‘lock and key’ to the speaker to stop the opposition, leading to chaos in the assembly. Apart from this, Mann has also faced criticism for withdrawing several election notifications.
Achievements despite challenges
Despite these challenges, the Mann government has also achieved some significant achievements. The free electricity scheme of up to 300 units per month has benefited millions of residents of the state, especially in rural areas. Also, the government has improved the education and health infrastructure of the state.

Is Bhagwant Mann’s chair in danger?

Whether Bhagwant Mann will continue as the Chief Minister of Punjab or not is still uncertain. If Kejriwal decides to replace Mann after the Haryana elections, AAP will need a new face in Punjab who can bring back the public’s confidence. The coming months will decide whether Bhagwant Mann will be able to improve his leadership or AAP will take a new path.

(The author is a senior journalist, author and founder of Commonwealth Thought Leaders Forum.)