However, despite this assurance, CM Mann and his family have immersed themselves in campaigning, surpassing the efforts of the AAP candidate himself. They are extensively covering every part and street of the constituency
Addressing a roadshow in support of AAP candidate Mohinder Bhagat, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserted that the outcome of the byelection to the Jalandhar West Assembly segment would have no impact on his government. “Neither will our government fall, nor will anyone else’s government be formed,” he said Wednesday.
However, despite this assurance, CM Mann and his family have immersed themselves in campaigning, surpassing the efforts of the AAP candidate himself. They are extensively covering every part and street of the constituency. This raises the question: why is Mann campaigning so intensely if he believes the election outcome will not impact the AAP government?
Political experts attribute this primarily to the acknowledgement of AAP’s defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. They believe that if this seat too is lost, it will be seen as a loss of confidence in the state government by the people. The election, scheduled for July 10, has become a focal point of attention in Punjab, with potential implications extending beyond the immediate outcome of the seat.
CM, along with his family, including wife and daughter, has moved to a rented accommodation in Jalandhar ahead of the byelection. They are conducting daily campaigns in the streets of the Assembly constituency. Moreover, Mann’s wife, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, actively holds public meetings at the rented house and then goes door-to-door for campaigning.
Advocate Satpal Virdi, a political expert, speaking to The Indian Express, said, “During the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, CM Mann had set a slogan of 13-0, aiming to win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. However, the party managed to win only three — two in Malwa (Sangrur and Anandpur Sahib), and one in the Doaba region (Hoshiarpur). Even in Hoshiarpur, the victory was attributed to the personal rapport of the candidate, Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, a former Congress MLA who joined AAP just before the Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, the party’s vote share saw a significant decline following its historic win in the 2022 assembly elections. Due to these factors, CM is now determined to win this byelection through any means necessary”.
In the Jalaladhar West Assembly segment, AAP stood third in the Lok Sabha elections. Congress received the highest 44,394 votes, followed by BJP (42,837 votes). AAP received only 15,629 votes.
“When the government is facing criticism from all quarters, this victory would bring a significant relief, especially to CM Mann’s leadership. Historically, ruling parties tend to win Assembly bypolls, but exceptions exist, as was seen in Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll where AAP lost just three months after the formation of government and despite a strong majority in the 2022 Assembly elections,” noted another political observer and Dalit issues expert, Prof. GC Kaul. “A victory could be interpreted as a vote of confidence in AAP and Punjab CM, prompting extensive campaigning efforts from CM Mann to secure it”.
A loss, however, would be a severe setback for the government and would put a question mark casting on CM Mann’s leadership. The AAP, which won 92 out of 117 assembly seats in 2022, lost on 84 Assembly segments in Lok Sabha polls and could get lead only in 33.