Mann will complete 5 years as CM; drugs, corruption ‘biggest’ problems, says Kejriwal

CHANDIGARH, March 16: AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asserted that Bhagwant Mann would complete his five-year term as the chief minister of Punjab, trashing opposition parties’ claims that he would be removed from the post.
However, Kejriwal also said that drugs and corruption were the biggest problems in Punjab where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under Mann has been in power for the last three years.
Kejriwal and Mann offered prayers at the Golden Temple on the completion of three years of the party’s government in the state on Sunday.Kejriwal, the former Delhi chief minister, arrived in Amritsar on Saturday after completing a 10-day Vipassana meditation session in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur.
During the Golden Temple visit, Kejriwal was accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal and AAP leaders, including minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) formed the government in Punjab in 2022 after winning 92 of the total 117 assembly seats.
Speaking to reporters in Amritsar, Kejriwal said, “On March 16, 2022, Mann saab took over as the Punjab chief minister. Today we came here to seek the blessings of Guru Maharaj (Almighty). In three years, they (gurus) guided us and gave us the strength to continue serving people.” “Today, the biggest problems in Punjab are drugs and corruption. Three crore people of Punjab have come together to wage war against drugs and corruption… this is a battle for ‘nyay’ (justice),” he added.
Kejriwal said they prayed to God to give them strength so that they could continue to serve the people of Punjab.
“We are here to serve the people and not for power,” he said.
Asked about the AAP’s political rivals claiming that the Punjab chief minister would be changed soon, the party chief asserted, “Mann saab will complete five years, you do not need to worry… he will complete the next five years as well.” Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa had earlier last month claimed that 32 AAP MLAs were in touch with him and ready to switch sides. He had also alleged that Mann was in touch with the BJP.
“When Kejriwal decides to remove him (Mann), he will pack his bags and join them (BJP),” Bajwa had alleged. (PTI)