Will Arvind Kejriwal Replace Bhagwant Mann as Punjab CM? Delhi Election Results Spark Speculations

The recent Delhi election results have sent shockwaves through the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), raising questions about its future strategy and leadership dynamics. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is currently in Delhi to attend a meeting called by AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, finds himself at the center of these speculations. Kejriwal’s meeting with Mann and AAP MLAs campaigning for the Delhi elections has fueled rumors about potential leadership changes in Punjab. While AAP leaders dismiss these claims as baseless, opposition parties like the Congress and BJP have added fuel to the fire by making bold assertions about internal discord within the AAP.

After losing the Delhi elections, Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting of Punjab MLAs in Delhi. Reports suggest that he is trying to remove @BhagwantMann Ji from the CM post by branding him as incompetent.

He failed to fulfill his promise of giving ₹1000 to women, was… pic.twitter.com/PJ5k3ttZ4E

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) February 10, 2025

The Congress has claimed that around three dozen AAP MLAs in Punjab are in touch with their party, signaling a possible exodus. Senior Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa even stated that more than 30 AAP MLAs are considering switching sides. On the other hand, the BJP has alleged that Arvind Kejriwal is planning to replace Bhagwant Mann as Punjab CM. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed that Kejriwal might declare Mann incompetent for failing to deliver on key promises, such as providing Rs 1,000 to women and curbing drug abuse. These claims have created an atmosphere of uncertainty, with some even speculating that Mann and AAP MLAs might rebel against Kejriwal and join the BJP, reminiscent of the political upheaval in Maharashtra led by Eknath Shinde.

केजरीवाल जी को सत्ता का नशा हो गया है… दिल्ली गंवाने के बाद अब वो पंजाब में मुख्यमंत्री बनने का सपना देख रहे हैं। हम इस सपने को पूरा करने के लिए केजरीवाल जी ने पिछले तीन साल में @AAPpunjab सरकार की नालायकी का सारा ठीकरा भगवंत मान जी पर फोड़ने की तैयारी कर ली है।

जितने मर्ज़ी… pic.twitter.com/R5rXZPpi1N

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) February 11, 2025

AAP leaders have vehemently denied these allegations, calling them the opposition’s “daydreaming.” AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang dismissed Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa’s claims, comparing them to the fictional dreams of “Mungerilal.” Kang also pointed out that Bajwa’s own brother has joined the BJP, undermining the credibility of such statements. Despite these rebuttals, the political landscape in Punjab remains tense, especially after AAP’s crushing defeat in Delhi and its poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. With Punjab being the only state where AAP is in power, the party is under increasing scrutiny to maintain its internal cohesion and governance.

The AAP’s landslide victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, where it won 92 out of 117 seats, was a historic moment for the party. However, the recent electoral setbacks have cast a shadow over its dominance in the state. As Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann navigates these challenges, the question of whether Arvind Kejriwal will replace him remains unanswered. For now, the AAP is focused on consolidating its position in Punjab, but the political drama unfolding in Delhi suggests that the road ahead may be anything but smooth.