Punjab CM Accuses BJP of Targeting Opposition Ahead of 2027 Elections

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accused the BJP of using the Enforcement Directorate to intimidate opposition leaders as part of their strategy for the upcoming 2027 assembly elections. He criticized recent raids targeting AAP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal and Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, claiming these actions are politically motivated. Mann emphasized that the BJP is struggling to find candidates and is undermining democracy by focusing solely on non-BJP governments. He also pointed out that the courts have acquitted AAP leaders in fabricated cases, questioning the legitimacy of the raids. This situation raises significant concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Punjab.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 17, 2026, 12:43 IST

Allegations Against BJP's Tactics

On Friday, Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department to intimidate opposition parties as they gear up for the 2027 assembly elections. During a press conference, Mann criticized the recent ED actions aimed at leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He highlighted that the ED had recently raided the residence of Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, the founder of Lovely Professional University, which hosts over 40,000 students from more than 35 countries.

Targeting AAP Leaders

Mann stated that the reason for the targeting was their affiliation with the AAP. He mentioned that the ED had conducted a raid at the home of Sanjeev Arora, a Punjab cabinet minister who had previously defeated the BJP in a by-election. Mann asserted that these actions are part of the BJP's strategy leading up to the 2027 elections. He emphasized that the court had acquitted AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case, labeling it as fabricated and resulting in no convictions.

Concerns Over Democratic Integrity

The Chief Minister expressed that this indicates the BJP's early preparations for the upcoming elections, claiming they are attempting to intimidate the opposition through the ED and Income Tax Department. He criticized the BJP for struggling to find 117 candidates to contest elections, stating that democracy is being undermined and condemned the targeting of only non-BJP governments. Mann noted that raids yield no substantial results, as evidenced by the honorable release of Kejriwal and Sisodia, asserting that there was no legitimate basis for prosecuting them.

Reactions to Recent Raids

These remarks followed the ED's raids on the residences of Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, his son Kavya Arora, and two business associates in Haryana, Chandigarh, and Punjab, linked to an ongoing investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). AAP's national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, has repeatedly criticized the central government for the frequent ED raids on party leaders, questioning the amount of black money that has been recovered.