Anurag Thakur: Punjab wants freedom from AAP misrule
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur has declared that Punjab seeks freedom from AAP's alleged misrule of drugs, gangsters, and lawlessness, and is turning to BJP for good governance — a pointed salvo ahead of the 2027 Punjab assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
Anurag Thakur , BJP Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh , attacked the AAP government in Punjab on 24 June 2026 .
He alleged Punjab is gripped by drugs, gangsters, and anarchy under AAP's rule.
Thakur claimed Punjab is now looking to the BJP for good governance.
AAP has governed Punjab since its 2022 landslide victory under CM Bhagwant Mann , having campaigned on eradicating the drug trade.
BJP has been working to expand its independent electoral presence in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
The central government has conducted NCB operations in Punjab and raised drug-trafficking concerns in Parliament since 2014 .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, declared that Punjab is looking to the Bharatiya Janata Party for good governance, alleging that the state is suffering under Aam Aadmi Party rule marked by drugs, gangsters, and lawlessness.
Context
Posting from Delhi, Thakur wrote in Hindi: 'आज पंजाब आम आदमी पार्टी के कुशासन नशे, गैंगस्टर और अराजकता से आजादी चाहता है।' ('Today Punjab wants freedom from the misrule, drugs, gangsters, and anarchy of the Aam Aadmi Party.'). He added that Punjab is therefore 'looking towards the BJP for good governance.'
The statement is a pointed attack on the AAP government in Punjab, which has been in power since its landslide victory in the March 2022 assembly elections under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. AAP's 2022 campaign had itself centred on promises to eradicate the drug trade and deliver clean, transparent administration.
Policy Backdrop
Punjab has faced longstanding challenges around drug abuse, organised crime, and agrarian distress. The BJP-led central government has periodically spotlighted drug trafficking and security concerns in the state through parliamentary interventions and operations by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) since 2014.
BJP spokespersons and MPs have consistently used public platforms to draw contrasts between their party's governance model and AAP's record on law-and-order metrics — both in Punjab and in Delhi, where AAP also governed for an extended period. This messaging forms part of a broader, longer-term effort to position BJP as a credible alternative in states where regional parties have held power.
Stakeholders and Impact
Punjab's voters, the state administration under CM Bhagwant Mann, and the BJP's own organisational machinery in the state are the primary stakeholders in this exchange. For BJP, which previously contested Punjab polls in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal, expanding its independent footprint in the state remains a strategic priority.
Thakur's remarks are likely to draw a response from AAP leadership, which has routinely countered such criticism by pointing to welfare schemes, school reforms, and mohalla clinics delivered under its watch in both Punjab and Delhi.
What's Next
With Punjab assembly elections scheduled for 2027, political messaging around governance, law and order, and the drug crisis is expected to intensify. Statements of this nature from senior BJP leaders signal an early effort to frame the electoral narrative well ahead of polling.
Responses from CM Bhagwant Mann or the AAP leadership, and any uptick in BJP's organisational activity across Punjab districts, will be the key indicators of how this political contest develops over the coming months.
Point of View
Gangsters, and anarchy is not new, but its amplification by a former Union Minister signals that BJP's Punjab outreach is moving from the organisational to the public-messaging phase. For AAP, the challenge is defending a record in a state where the drug crisis predates its tenure yet remains politically toxic. The exchange sets the tone for what is likely to be a sharp, governance-centred campaign cycle in one of north India's most electorally watched states.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Anurag Thakur say about Punjab and AAP?
Anurag Thakur said Punjab wants freedom from AAP's misrule characterised by drugs, gangsters, and lawlessness, and that the state is looking to BJP for good governance.
When did AAP come to power in Punjab?
AAP won the Punjab assembly elections in March 2022 and formed the government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann .
What is BJP's current position in Punjab politics?
BJP is the principal opposition seeking to expand its independent footprint in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, having previously contested in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal.
What are the main issues Anurag Thakur raised against AAP in Punjab?
Thakur specifically cited the drug trade, gangster activity, and general lawlessness as evidence of what he termed AAP's misrule in Punjab.
When are the next Punjab assembly elections?
The next Punjab assembly elections are expected in 2027 , making the current period a critical phase for early political positioning by all parties.
