Frustrated After Repeated Defeats, Congress & SAD Presidents Resorting to Lies and Excuses: Baltej Pannu

Chandigarh, December 22, 2025: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab General Secretary and Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Monday strongly rebutted the baseless allegations levelled by Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal regarding the recently concluded Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections.
 
Addressing a press conference at the party office, Pannu said that both Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal failed to field candidates in several constituencies and are now falsely accusing AAP of “capturing” seats. “If Congress chose to boycott elections because it could not find candidates, then the responsibility lies solely with Congress. Someone had to win those seats, and AAP had candidates everywhere,” he said.
 
Pannu pointed out that Congress first alleged that nomination papers were snatched, torn or rejected under pressure. “When these excuses failed, Raja Warring suddenly started claiming that Congress boycotted 18 seats and AAP benefited from it. This is nothing but an attempt to cover up political failure,” he added.
 
He cited the Tarn Taran seat, where AAP won by a huge margin while Congress slipped to fourth position and lost its security deposit. “That happened because Congress virtually abandoned the contest,” Pannu said, adding that Raja Warring should also introspect whether his own controversial remarks against SC and BC communities contributed to his party’s humiliation there.
 
Taking on SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Pannu dismissed claims that hundreds of Akali nomination papers were rejected across constituencies. He reminded that the entire nomination and scrutiny process is videographed. “If their candidates existed and papers were wrongly rejected, they should produce video evidence. Were these candidates imaginary, or from some forgotten era like dinosaurs?” Pannu asked.
 
Pannu said the truth is simple: neither Congress nor SAD could find candidates, yet their leaders are dreaming of becoming Punjab’s next Chief Minister. “Even before results, Raja Warring rushed to the High Court for publicity, despite knowing that videography during counting is mandatory. This opposition survives on one-day headlines, not on public support,” he said.
 
He said both Raja Warring and Sukhbir Badal must accept their defeats, including the Tarn Taran by-election. “The people have clearly rejected them in Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections as well,” he added.
 
Pannu said the elections reflected people’s endorsement of AAP’s governance over the last four years. “Voters supported AAP’s work, 600 units of free electricity, daytime power supply for farmers, massive road development and the closure of 16 toll plazas,” he said.
 
Rejecting opposition claims of irregularities, Pannu asserted that this was one of the cleanest elections in decades. “The administration did not favour any party. People voted for work, not propaganda,” he said.
 
He concluded by stating that Congress and SAD are spreading misinformation out of frustration, sensing their inevitable defeat in 2027. “These parties have lost their base in villages. Punjab remembers the misrule, drugs, lawlessness and sacrilege incidents under SAD and has already pushed them to the political margins,” Pannu said.