In a fiery ‘Dhanyawad Sabha’ address after Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) resounding win in the Ludhiana West bypoll, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal called the result a clear endorsement of AAP’s pro people work-based politics. “The people have once again stamped their approval on our work,” he said, terming the Visavadar and Ludhiana bypolls as semifinals ahead of AAP’s decisive win in Punjab and Gujarat in 2027. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Manish Sisodia, and top state leadership joined the AAP Supremo at the event.
Addressing the gathering, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “The Aam Aadmi Party has secured two spectacular victories — one in Ludhiana West and the other in Visavadar, Gujarat. In Gujarat, we defeated the BJP in their stronghold. Gujarat has had a BJP government for 30 years. Dislodging them is nearly impossible. Yet, even there, the Aam Aadmi Party won the by-election with a massive margin of over 17,000 votes.”
Exposing the BJP’s desperation, he said, “The BJP was so rattled by our win that just two days later, they arrested another of our MLAs. But I believe the more injustice they do, the more people will rally behind the Aam Aadmi Party.”
Framing the victories as a prelude to 2027, Arvind Kejriwal asserted, “These by-elections in Ludhiana and Gujarat are the semifinals. Punjab goes to polls in February 2027 and Gujarat in December 2027. These wins clearly indicate that the Aam Aadmi Party is headed for a sweeping victory in both states.”
Applauding the Punjab government’s performance, the AAP Chief said, “In the past three years, the AAP government under Bhagwant Mann has done tremendous work. Ludhiana’s victory is the people’s seal of approval. They are saying — keep it up, you’re doing great work, and we’ll vote for you in even greater numbers.”
Contrasting AAP’s agenda with others, he added, “The people have endorsed our good work, while Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP have no real issues left. During the Ludhiana campaign, AAP asked for votes to improve electricity, water, education, end drug abuse, build better roads — all for Punjab’s progress. But what were Congress and BJP campaigning for?”
Highlighting the opposition’s sole agenda, he further added, “Their only slogan was to stop me from going to Rajya Sabha. That was it. ‘If Sanjeev Arora wins, Kejriwal will go to Rajya Sabha — stop him!’ That was all they had.”
Recalling an internal conversation, Arvind Kejriwal stated, “Bhagwant Mann asked me if I wanted to go to Rajya Sabha?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t.’ He suggested I publicly clarify it. I said, ‘No, let them run their campaign on this empty issue. We’ll clarify after the election.’ And I did — I held a press conference in Delhi and declared I’m not going to Rajya Sabha.”
Mocking the misplaced priorities of the opposition, the AAP Supremo noted, “Before the elections, I wanted to keep them tangled up in this issue. BJP and Congress ran their entire campaigns on this — as if the public cares whether I go to Rajya Sabha or not. People are struggling to make ends meet, their roads are broken, water and electricity are problems — but no party talks about these real issues.”
Highlighting BJP-Congress collusion, he said, “There’s a solid ‘setting’ between BJP and Congress. At 11 AM, Congress candidate Ashu would hold a press conference saying, ‘Stop Kejriwal from going to Rajya Sabha.’ Then at 3 PM, BJP would say the same. They were in perfect coordination, taking turns like a team — morning one, afternoon the other, but same message.”
Exposing their real enemy, the AAP Chief said, “These two parties fight together because they share one common enemy — the Aam Aadmi Party, which has ended both their politics. When I was in Gujarat recently, I asked people: what is the relationship between BJP and Congress?”
Describing people’s reactions, Arvind Kejriwal shared, “Some said brother-sister, others said husband-wife. But I believe they are neither — they are secret lovers, who meet in the dark and do shady deals together. They can’t marry because society would reject their alliance. They conspire, campaign together, and now the truth is out — they fought jointly in Punjab and Delhi, and are doing it again in Punjab.”
On AAP’s governance in Punjab, he asserted, “For the last three years, AAP has been doing exceptional work in Punjab. Good politics says — if someone does good work, praise it. Don’t play dirty. We’ve launched a massive war on drugs. Who brought drugs to Punjab? These very parties. Over the last 15–20 years, their governments imported drugs into the state.”
“Their ministers used to carry drugs in their own vehicles, they sold drugs. Now, for the first time, a government in Punjab is fearlessly cracking down on drug traffickers and putting them behind bars. The entire state is relieved. Mothers and sisters are blessing us,” he added.
Taking on the critics of AAP’s crackdown on drug trafficking, Arvind Kejriwal said, “And yet, these three parties — BJP, Congress, and Akali Dal — continue to mock our efforts. They abuse us for waging a war on drugs. Recently, a senior leader of theirs was arrested and sent to Nabha jail. They were rattled. The day he was arrested, Congress leaders started screaming ‘dictatorship, dictatorship.’ One by one, they rushed to his support. Three days later, they backtracked, apologized, and said arresting him was the right move. They’re utterly confused — Congress doesn’t know what to say, nor does BJP, nor Akali Dal.”
Highlighting reforms in education under AAP in Punjab, he emphasised, “We’ve done incredible work in education. Many people come up to me praising our efforts. In the 2017 Government of India survey, Punjab was ranked 29th. Today, because of our government’s efforts, Punjab ranks No. 1 across the country. That success took immense hard work — from teachers, principals, students, officers, ministers, and MLAs. In three years, our government transformed schools across villages.”
Elaborating on improvements in school infrastructure, Arvind Kejriwal added, “Over 8,000 schools now have boundary walls, which didn’t exist before. Toilets have been built and cleaned, schools are regularly maintained, security guards have been posted, and desks have been provided where children once sat on the floor. People are genuinely happy — they say they’ve never seen such work before. Recently, we held inaugurations in every school — sometimes for walls, sometimes for toilets.”
Responding to mockery by opponents, he said, “BJP and Congress mocked us for inaugurating toilets and walls. But the people hit back on social media: ‘What did you do in 75 years?’ Today, schools lack blackboards, desks, clean water, and toilets because of your failures. Now that AAP is fixing things, you ridicule us? We don’t need to say anything — the public will answer you. They already slapped you once in the elections, and they’ll keep doing it. You’ve run out of issues.”
On the sensitive issue of ‘beadbi’, the AAP Supremo stated, “The issue of ‘beadbi’ has persisted for years in Punjab. The AAP government is now bringing in a strict law against it. I want to say to Congress — when the law is tabled, ask your bosses in the BJP whether you should support or oppose it. Because they don’t do anything without BJP’s approval. One day you’re with us, the next day you’re against.”
Applauding gains for farmers, he said, “Today, farmers are happy. Earlier, they had to irrigate their fields at 3 AM because electricity came at night. Now they get 8 hours of electricity during the day. In 2022, when our government came to power, only 20% of Punjab’s farmland received irrigation water — even after 70 years of independence. In just 3 years, that number has risen to 60%.”
Setting ambitious targets, Arvind Kejriwal continued, “By March 31 next year, we aim to bring irrigation to 90% of farmland in Punjab. If we can achieve in 3 years what others didn’t in 70, it means they never intended to — they only looted Punjab. They emptied the treasury, enriched themselves so much that even their future generations won’t need to work.”
Thanking the people and invoking spiritual blessings, he said, “Such tremendous work is happening in Punjab now. I thank God deeply that in 2022, with the blessings of Guru Maharaj, the people of Punjab formed a truly great government. From education to roads, water to electricity, the war on drugs to the fight against corruption — every sector is seeing transformative change.”
Quoting public sentiment, he shared, “A man recently told me, ‘I’ve made up my mind — I will never vote for BJP, Congress, or Akali Dal again.’ That’s the sentiment we need to spread. I urge all of you — go door to door and make every Punjabi vow that they will never again vote for BJP, Congress, or Akali Dal.”
Mobilizing for the 2027 elections, the AAP Chief said, “Only two years are left — elections are in February 2027. In the coming days, committees will be formed at every booth, in every village. We didn’t enter politics just for power — we came for public service. Politics gives us the platform to do immense good and earn blessings.”
Rallying his cadre, he concluded, “Soon, duties will be assigned across villages and wards, down to every booth. You’ll be entrusted with important public service tasks. You’ll enjoy it — just give a little bit of your time.”
No one will be spared in the war against drugs; legal action may take time, but justice is certain: Bhagwant Mann
Meanwhile, declaring an uncompromising stand on drug abuse, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said, “No one will be spared in the war against drugs. Legal proceedings may take time, but justice is inevitable.” He asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party government is making decisions in the interest of the people of Punjab and working day and night for their welfare.
Attacking the opposition’s downfall, he said, “Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal are now fighting for their very existence. Their condition is such that they can’t even find people to form an 11 or 21-member committee. These parties committed grave injustices against the people, divided them in the name of religion, and looted the resources of the state. That is why the public is now teaching them a lesson.” He made it clear that “our goal is not to make Punjab another California or London, but to build a strong and self-reliant Punjab, because Punjab’s cultural identity and public participation are what make it truly special.”
Highlighting Punjab’s transformation in education, the Punjab CM asserted, “In the last three and a half years, our government has done unprecedented work in education. A recent national-level survey involving 28,000 students across various classes and subjects has placed Punjab at the number one position in the country. In 2017, Punjab was ranked 29th in education. Today, we are ranked first in all categories — a feat made possible by our dedicated and hardworking teachers.”
Reiterating his government’s resolve to bring justice, Bhagwant Mann said, “Those who once protected the killers of Jallianwala Bagh are now behind bars in Nabha Jail, and even those who came out in their support will not be spared.” He emphasized that action continues against those who destroyed the youth of Punjab by pushing them into the swamp of drugs, stating, “Legal processes may be delayed, but justice will certainly be delivered.”
He pointed out that opposition parties have no real connection with the common people, while the AAP government has, “without any recommendation, given government jobs to over 55,000 youth, purchased a thermal plant, and ensured 300 units of free electricity to every household every month. Today, 90% of homes in Punjab receive zero electricity bills.”
Taking aim at senior Congress leaders, the Punjab CM said, “Ravneet Bittu and Charanjit Channi are the same people who tried to mislead the public by calling Majithia’s arrest wrong. Now they are apologizing. These people are all in cahoots. But the people of Punjab are wise and will not fall into their trap again.”
Calling out the opposition’s lack of credibility, he added, “The opposition has nothing to show. Their entire politics rests on lies. A special session of the Vidhan Sabha will be held on July 10 and 11, where we will expose these lies. The Aam Aadmi Party government is a people’s government, and the right to run it lies only with the people.”
