Ludhiana, Jan 8 (NationPress) Delivering a powerful political statement, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann convened with the recently elected Zila Parishad and Block Samiti representatives, declaring that the state has firmly moved on from the era of intimidation and rigged elections. They announced an aggressive initiative against gangsters, akin to the 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' (War against Drugs) campaign.

Citing AAP's overwhelming victory in the Panchayat elections, securing over 70% of the seats as evidence of a public mandate for integrity in governance, Kejriwal highlighted that Punjab has experienced the most transparent local body elections to date, with no votes tampered. CM Mann emphasized that the commitment to serve the public had compelled traditional parties to alter their electoral strategies.

Regarding the Akal Takht, CM Mann expressed his intention to present himself with full transparency and requested that the proceedings be aired live across media platforms. He stated, "I will approach the Akal Takht not merely as a Chief Minister, but as a devoted Sikh. The Sri Akal Takht Sahib is sacred to every Sikh and represents the highest temporal authority of our community. Even with the President's visit to Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, my commitment to the Sri Akal Takht Sahib remains unwavering."

He firmly declared that the Sri Akal Takht Sahib holds the highest significance for him.

"Any directive from the Sri Akal Takht Sahib will be respected in its true essence. The commands from Sri Akal Takht Sahib have always been and will continue to be paramount for me and my family. It is a venerated site where Sikhs find divine tranquility and strength," CM Mann asserted.

In his address to the newly elected officials in Ludhiana, Kejriwal conveyed his congratulations, stating, "I commend all of you for your substantial election wins to the district councils and block committees. This is a significant responsibility entrusted to you by the people. AAP's achievement of over 70% of the total seats is a source of pride for your party."

Reflecting on previous panchayat elections in Punjab, the former Delhi Chief Minister remarked that historically, ruling parties secured victories through manipulation and coercion.

"In 2013, panchayat elections followed the state government formation. The same occurred in 2018, leading to widespread booth capturing and intimidation, which facilitated their wins," Kejriwal added.

He contrasted past election practices with the current situation, stating, "Today, after four years of our governance, the elections for block committees and district councils were conducted without any intimidation. Look at the results. More than 600 candidates won with less than 100 votes. Over 350 seats were claimed by the Opposition. There are instances where candidates from Congress or Akali Dal won by a margin of just one vote. Have you ever heard of a ruling party candidate losing by a single vote?"

Kejriwal remarked that if AAP had desired to misuse power, it would have been a simple task.

"If we aimed to engage in coercion, we could have called upon the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to declare our candidate as elected. Manipulating a single vote is not complex. However, we chose a different path. Our entry into politics was not for such purposes."