Haryana CM accuses AAP government in Punjab of indulging in ‘election-time freebie politics’

A day after Punjab announced a monthly stipend of ₹ 1,000 to women, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday (March 9, 2026) accused the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab of indulging in “election time freebie politics” and maintained that people in the state are disillusioned with the government and have decided to seek a change in power in the next Assembly elections.

“People in Punjab are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the policies of the ruling AAP government and are now looking for an alternative ahead of the next elections,” he said at a press conference.

Responding to the budget announcement that the Punjab government will provide ₹1,500 to SC category women and ₹1,000 to other women, Mr. Saini said that the AAP government has made these announcements keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly elections. However, he maintained that these announcements would not benefit the party politically as the people of Punjab had already decided to change the government.

Mr. Saini said whether the previous Congress governments or the current AAP regime, both have a history of making populist promises and handing out “free gifts” during elections.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, during the ongoing budget session, said opposition parties’ disappointment over the ₹ 1,000 per month announcement for women clearly reflects their fear of AAP coming back to power in Punjab in 2027.

Ending the debate on the motion of thanks with the governor’s speech, Mr. Mann said that while parties like Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP and Congress had repeatedly betrayed the people by ignoring their election promises, the AAP government had treated its manifesto as a sacred commitment and fulfilled every guarantee for the common people in just four years.