AAP Punjab CM pick Bhagwant Mann on ‘personal attacks’ from rivals, his agenda
Punjab election results 2022: AAP is projected to win 90+ seats in the state.
An overwhelming win was followed by an emotional speech in Punjab as votes were counted for the state elections on Thursday, projecting the Aam Aadmi Party's victory in over 90 of 117 assembly seats. Bhagwant Mann, the party's pick for the top post, promised a "visible change within a month". After a spate of personal attacks on him, over his 'past drinking habits', from rivals during a bitter poll campaign recently, the 48-year-old said: "Let's forgive them". “They used every tactic, made personal allegations against me and Arvind Kejriwal, but people rejected all these claims, and they've shown faith in us. Politicians and bureaucrats should learn to respect the common man (aam aadmi),” he said in his victory speech.
He also listed out his priorties as a chief minister. "My first concern is unemployment. You have done your duty, now responsibility is on my shoulders to deliver for Punjab. Please have faith in me, we will change Punjab. A visible change will be seen in one month," he said. "The chief minister will work for the entire Punjab... not for a party. Every Punjabi will get the benefit of governance," he added.
"My first aim is to provide more employment opportunities. We will save the youth of Punjab, frustrated due to unemployment."
The AAP leader did not spare his rivals - the political heavyweights who could not win their constituencies. Punjab threw a surpise as the list included seasoned leaders like Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal, former chief minister Amarinder Singh, chief minister CS Channi and a man of many words, Navjot Singh Sidhu. “Bade Badal Sahib has lost, Sukhbir (Badal) has lost from Jalalabad, Captain has lost from Patiala, Sidhu and Majithia are also losing, Channi has lost on both the seats..,” Mann said as he shared the stage along with his mother.
Visuals also showed the AAP leader sharing some emotional moments with his mother on the stage.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also thanked the people of Punjab for the "revolution" in a tweet that shows him with Mann.
