BJP’s Tarun Chugh Claims ‘Countdown’ for Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Has Started After AAP’s Delhi Defeat

New Delhi, February 10, 2025: Following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) resounding victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh claimed that the people of Delhi have “punished” Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for alleged corruption. Chugh asserted that the “countdown” for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has now begun, suggesting that AAP may face similar political challenges in Punjab. He remarked that the people of Punjab are eager to free the state from “AAP-da” governance, accusing AAP of being controlled by leaders in Delhi who allegedly shield the mafia operating within Punjab.

Chugh’s statement comes amid AAP’s significant setback in the Delhi Assembly elections, where the BJP secured a historic victory after 27 years, winning 48 out of 70 seats. AAP’s seat count dropped to 22 from 62 in 2020, while the Congress failed to secure any seats for the third consecutive time. In light of these results, Arvind Kejriwal is expected to hold a strategic meeting on February 11 with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP ministers, and MLAs to analyze the Delhi defeat and discuss strategies for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that over 30 AAP MLAs in Punjab are in touch with the Congress and may consider switching sides. Bajwa criticized the AAP government in Punjab for failing to deliver on key promises, including providing ₹1,000 per month to women and generating ₹20,000 crore from mining revenues. He also accused the Mann government of harboring corrupt ministers and predicted that it would face the same fate as AAP’s Delhi government in the next Punjab elections.

The BJP and Congress are now expected to intensify their campaigns in Punjab, seeking to capitalize on AAP’s vulnerabilities. As AAP faces mounting pressure, the upcoming meeting in Delhi will be crucial for the party’s damage control efforts and its plans to regain political momentum ahead of future elections.