📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / ABP Sanjha
Politics
Former Punjab CM Channi slams Bhagwant Mann, says state under mafia rule
✍️ Amar Ujala · Jalandhar
🗓 29 Oct 2026, 07:39 PM
👁 1
Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi accused CM Bhagwant Mann of attacking him and alleged that the state is being run by mafia elements.
Jalandhar, Punjab – In a public statement in Jalandhar, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi leveled strong criticism against the incumbent chief minister Bhagwant Mann. Channi claimed that Mann's administration is facing an onslaught from political opponents and that the state is effectively under the control of mafia networks.
Channi, who served as Punjab's chief minister for a brief period in 2021-22, said the current government's policies are being undermined by criminal elements that have infiltrated the political system. He warned that such influence hampers development and erodes public trust.
The remarks were made during a press interaction where Channi declined to name specific individuals but emphasized the need for a clean and transparent administration. No official response from Bhagwant Mann's office was recorded at the time of reporting.
Political analysts note that intra‑party tensions have risen in Punjab, with former leaders occasionally challenging the ruling party's credibility. The episode adds to the ongoing discourse on governance and law‑and‑order issues in the state.
The statement underscores the heightened political rhetoric ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, as opposition figures seek to capitalize on perceived governance lapses.
Channi, who served as Punjab's chief minister for a brief period in 2021-22, said the current government's policies are being undermined by criminal elements that have infiltrated the political system. He warned that such influence hampers development and erodes public trust.
The remarks were made during a press interaction where Channi declined to name specific individuals but emphasized the need for a clean and transparent administration. No official response from Bhagwant Mann's office was recorded at the time of reporting.
Political analysts note that intra‑party tensions have risen in Punjab, with former leaders occasionally challenging the ruling party's credibility. The episode adds to the ongoing discourse on governance and law‑and‑order issues in the state.
The statement underscores the heightened political rhetoric ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, as opposition figures seek to capitalize on perceived governance lapses.