Punjab Congress accuses CM Mann of working for BJP; blast kills one near Shambhu
Synopsis
Punjab Congress has accused CM Bhagwant Mann of functioning as a proxy for the BJP — a charge the BJP itself denied. On the same day, a man died in a low-intensity blast near Shambhu in Patiala, with SAD blaming Mann for Punjab's worsening security situation. The triple political attack signals mounting pressure on the AAP government from all sides.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Congress spokesperson Amit Bawa Saini accused CM Bhagwant Singh Mann of acting at BJP's convenience , citing the Amritpal Singh episode as evidence.
BJP Vice President Fateh Jung Bajwa dismissed the allegations, saying Congress is a "divided party" with nothing substantive to say.
Bajwa denied BJP has any plan or interest in inducting AAP's Mann into the party.
A man was killed in a low-intensity blast on the Delhi-Rajpura railway track near Shambhu in Patiala district on 28 April .
SAD leader Arshdeep Singh Kler held CM Mann responsible for deteriorating law and order, citing grenade attacks on police stations and killings of traders and singers.
Punjab Congress spokesperson Amit Bawa Saini on Tuesday, 28 April launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Bhagwant Singh Mann, alleging that he "works according to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) convenience" rather than standing up for Punjab's interests. The BJP swiftly refuted the allegations, calling them a reflection of Congress's own political confusion. The political crossfire unfolded on the same day a man was killed in a low-intensity blast near Shambhu town in Patiala district, raising fresh questions about law and order in the state.
Congress Allegations Against CM Mann
Speaking to IANS, Saini said, "Punjab Congress has been saying this for a very long time. It is not a new claim regarding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. If you look at many of his actions, whether it was the safe exit of Amritpal Singh from Punjab, and many other things, he works according to the convenience of the BJP."
Saini further alleged that Mann selectively criticises the BJP only when it benefits him politically. "When he wants to garner praise for himself in Punjab, he abuses the BJP but never takes a stand for the state's issues against the BJP or the Union government," he said. He also claimed that Mann "can switch into the BJP any time depending on the latter's convenience."
BJP Fires Back at Congress
Punjab BJP Vice President Fateh Jung Bajwa dismissed the allegations in a sharp rebuttal. "This is the Congress party's own thinking. They will keep making such statements because they have nothing else to say. The Congress is a divided party. They should talk about their own party instead and don't worry about others," he told reporters.
Bajwa also flatly denied that the BJP had any interest in inducting CM Mann or AAP members into its fold. "The BJP does not have such a fantasy to bring in AAP. Our party has no policy of bringing in such individuals. We will contest elections on our own," he said.
Blast Near Shambhu Kills One, SAD Targets Mann
Adding to the political turbulence, a man was killed in a low-intensity blast reported on the Delhi-Rajpura railway track near Shambhu town in Patiala district on Tuesday, according to police. The incident drew an immediate political response from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
SAD leader Arshdeep Singh Kler held CM Mann directly responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. "Today, I would like to ask CM Mann whether there is a lack of coordination among the agencies. In Punjab, police stations are being attacked with grenades and rocket launchers. There have been killings in sports fields, traders have been murdered, and even famous singers in Punjab have been killed," he told IANS.
"What happened in Shambhu today has shaken the entire state," Kler added.
Broader Context: Punjab's Political Fault Lines
The Congress's broadside against Mann is not new — the party has consistently sought to portray the AAP government in Punjab as ideologically aligned with the BJP despite their public rivalry. The Amritpal Singh episode, in which the radical preacher evaded a police dragnet for weeks in 2023, has remained a recurring flashpoint in these accusations. Notably, AAP and BJP are locked in fierce electoral competition across multiple states, making the Congress's framing a strategic attempt to erode Mann's anti-BJP credentials among Punjab voters.
With the Shambhu blast adding to a string of security incidents in the state, opposition pressure on the Mann government is set to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
From SAD on governance, and from a security situation that keeps producing violent incidents. The Shambhu blast is the real story hiding behind the political noise, and it deserves more than a footnote in opposition press statements.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Punjab Congress allege about CM Bhagwant Mann?
Punjab Congress spokesperson Amit Bawa Saini alleged on 28 April that CM Bhagwant Mann "works according to BJP's convenience" and never takes a genuine stand against the BJP or the Union government on Punjab's issues. He cited the safe exit of Amritpal Singh from Punjab as one example of this alleged alignment.
How did the BJP respond to Congress's allegations?
Punjab BJP Vice President Fateh Jung Bajwa dismissed the allegations as Congress's "own thinking", calling the party divided and saying it should focus on its own affairs. He also denied that the BJP had any plan to induct CM Mann or AAP members into the party.
What happened in the Shambhu blast on 28 April?
A man was killed in a low-intensity blast reported on the Delhi-Rajpura railway track near Shambhu town in Punjab's Patiala district on Tuesday, 28 April, according to police. The incident drew sharp criticism from SAD, which blamed CM Mann for the deteriorating law and order situation.
Who is Arshdeep Singh Kler and what did he say?
Arshdeep Singh Kler is a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He held CM Mann responsible for Punjab's worsening security situation, pointing to grenade and rocket launcher attacks on police stations, killings in sports fields, murders of traders, and the deaths of well-known singers in the state.
Why does Congress keep accusing AAP of being close to BJP in Punjab?
Congress has consistently sought to undermine AAP's anti-BJP positioning in Punjab, which is central to the party's voter appeal. By alleging that Mann acts at BJP's behest, Congress aims to erode his credibility as an independent voice and position itself as the genuine opposition to both parties in the state.
