'At no cost' will Mann complete tenure: Warring predicts AAP govt collapse in Punjab

NEW DELHI: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring took a dig at chief minister Bhagwant Mann, saying the ongoing Vidhan Sabha session could be his last. The sharp jibe at Punjab CM came months prior to Punjab's assembly elections set for early next year.Warring also claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party government could soon lose its majority because of growing discontent among its MLAs.While bidding farewell to Mann, Warring said the chief minister would "at no cost" complete his tenure. He claimed that even if the Punjab assembly elections are held as scheduled in February 2027, Mann would not remain chief minister until then."The Aam Aadmi Party is likely to implode very soon as the government is losing its majority. Many MLAs are just waiting for the opportune moment, which is not very far," he said.Warring claimed that most AAP MLAs were "completely alienated and disillusioned" with their own government. "For four and a half years, they have felt suffocated and they are now waiting for the breather," he said.The Punjab Congress chief alleged that despite receiving a strong mandate, the AAP government had failed both the people of Punjab and its own MLAs."Mann has proved to be the worst ever chief minister Punjab had, for which they will never forgive him," he said.Warring also criticised CM Mann for continuing to rely on his image as a comedian after becoming chief minister.He said Mann had failed to understand that his role had changed after taking charge of the state."Unfortunately, Mann could not make the difference that his stage had changed and he was no longer required to survive through narrating jokes and anecdotes. People of Punjab had not elected you to make them laugh, for that they already had enough of your comedy," he said.The PCC president said people had voted for Mann expecting "badlaav" (change), but alleged that he had instead given up his authority to "outsiders" to protect his position as chief minister."Instead, you surrendered all your authority to outsiders while guarding your chief ministerial chair, for which you sacrificed the interests of Punjab. History will never forgive you for that," Warring warned CM Mann.Earlier, on August 5, Warring said he wanted to contest the 2027 assembly election against Mann and urged the Congress leadership to field him from Mann's constituency.Addressing a gathering in Faridkot, Warring said the final decision would be taken by Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi."While Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have to make a decision. I am not in a position to do that. Either don't field me at all, or if you do field me, field me against Bhagwant Mann. I will contest," he said.The remarks come as political parties prepare for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections. The AAP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have already started preparations for the polls.The AAP won the 2022 Punjab assembly elections with a strong majority, forming its first government in the state and ending the Congress' tenure in power.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.