National Times Bureau :- Aam Aadmi Party Punjab Media Incharge Baltej Pannu on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, alleging that both parties ran a decades-long, covert power-sharing arrangement that systematically looted Punjab while posing as political opponents.
Addressing a press conference at the AAP party office here, Pannu played a video clip of Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, claiming that the clip itself exposes the “hand-in-glove politics” between Congress and Akali leadership. In the video, Bittu is heard admitting that in 2017, efforts were made to defeat Bhagwant Mann and ensure the victory of Sukhbir Singh Badal.
“This is not an allegation by AAP. This is their own leader on record,” Pannu said. “Ravneet Bittu has openly admitted that Congress and Akali leaders worked together behind closed doors, deciding who would win, who would lose, and which seat would go to whom.”
‘Five Years You Loot, Five Years We Loot’ Model Ruled Punjab
Pannu alleged that Punjab’s politics for years followed a fixed-match formula. “Five years you rule, five years we rule. You don’t question us, we won’t question you. This was not governance; it was organised political corruption,” he said, adding that both parties protected each other’s misdeeds.
He claimed that constituencies across Punjab were pre-decided through backroom deals between Congress and Akali leaders. “Patiala, Lambi, Lehra Gaga, Sunam, Bathinda, Sangrur, Doaba, Majha—every region had its own secret understanding,” Pannu said.
According to Pannu, leaders routinely changed their statements from district to district. “They said one thing in Bathinda, another in Sangrur, and something else in Chandigarh. They didn’t even remember what they had said where,” he remarked.
Rise of Bhagwant Mann Shook the Old System
Pannu said the entire political establishment panicked when a common man from Sangrur entered politics and began exposing their nexus. “They tried to defeat Bhagwant Mann in 2017, then again in 2019. But Sangrur understood the truth early. When Mann Sahab won twice from Sangrur, the message spread across Punjab, leading to the 2022 verdict,” he said.
He pointed out that the 2022 elections marked the collapse of the old power structure. “Captain Amarinder Singh lost, Bikram Majithia lost, Parkash Singh Badal lost, Sukhbir Badal lost and Navjot Sidhu lost. These were not coincidences; these were the fallen pillars of a corrupt system,” Pannu asserted.
‘They Are Nervous Because Punjab Has Changed’
Pannu said the opposition is unsettled because of visible changes in Punjab over the last four years. He cited irrigation water reaching tail-end farmers after 45 years, the Sadak Surakhya Force ensuring rapid emergency response, closure of 16 toll plazas, 600 units of free electricity, ₹10 lakh health insurance cover and what he termed transparent governance.
“They don’t talk about development. All they say is, ‘Let us come, we will arrest Bhagwant Mann.’ Arrest him for what? For giving water to farmers? For saving accident victims? For stopping loot?” Pannu asked.
He said the strongest evidence of AAP’s claims is that a former Congress leader himself has admitted the truth. “Ravneet Bittu is a Union Minister today. If he says he was sent to defeat Bhagwant Mann and help Sukhbir Badal, the real question is—who sent him?”
Concluding, Pannu said Punjab has now identified who played games behind the scenes and who stood with the people. “The era of secret deals is over. Honest politics has begun, and that is what they cannot tolerate anymore,” he said.
