Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) may soon implement its major pre-poll promise of providing 300 free units of electricity to every household. To work out its modalities and discuss its implementation, the party and the state government have held a series of meetings over the past few days.

On Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a meeting with AAP supremo and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal along with Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, along with senior officers to discuss the same.

The meeting came amidst reports that Kejriwal chaired a meeting of Punjab’s senior bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited chairman-cum-managing director Baldev Singh Sran, in the absence of the Chief Minister Mann and the Power Minister Harbhajan Singh.

After the two-hour-long meeting, Mann took to Twitter to say that he will soon “give good news” to the people of Punjab. It is believed that the “good news” would be related to the AAP’s “first guarantee” of 300 free power units besides the round-the-clock power supply that it announced in June last year.

“Had a very good meeting with our leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Ji. Very soon I will give good news to the people of Punjab,” tweeted Mann after the meeting with Kejriwal, in Punjabi.

Kejriwal, after the meeting, also tweeted that the people of the country are tired of corrupt politicians and political parties. “Together we will change Delhi, Punjab and the whole country. People are very upset and sad. Tired of dirty and corrupt politics of politicians and parties. We have to work day and night for the people,” he said.

Sources in the party maintained that AAP supremo wanted to deliver this major poll promise at the earliest, especially when the party’s government in the State is set to complete its one month in office. Notably, Bhagwant Mann took over as Punjab Chief Minister on March 16.

It has been learnt that Punjab’s senior officials opined against implementing decisions citing PSPCL’s weak financial position and to further burden the already-strained power utility.

As per AAP Government’s estimates, it is planning to provide free power to over 73 lakh consumers — a decision likely to cost crores to the state exchequer.

Already, the state provides free power to the AP (agriculture pumpset) consumers, besides 200 units free to SC, OBC, BPL consumers, other than subsidized power to the industrial sector.

For 2021-22, the power subsidy bill in Punjab was Rs 10,668 crore — including Rs 7,180 crore for agriculture subsidy, Rs 1,627 crore for SC, BC, and BPL consumers.

Party sources claimed that the announcement would be made anytime soon and the state government, along with AAP chief, has thoroughly discussed all aspects for the free power scheme. “It has been discussed with the state power regulator (Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission), the estimates have been made about the cost to be borne by the PSPCL. Discussion was also held on how to ensure that the benefit was not misused and benefit the needy,” said an AAP leader.

A government official, privy to the development and requesting anonymity, said that if the decision is implemented, all households will get 300 units free irrespective of their economic condition. “Those getting 200 free units as of now will get 300 and will be charged only if they exceed consumption above 300 units,” said the official, adding that the “already high power subsidy bill” will increase by approximately Rs 5000 crore annually.

OPPOSITION SLAMS KEJRIWAL TO HOLD MEETING WITH PUNJAB OFFICERS

Opposition parties in Punjab slammed the ruling AAP on Tuesday over reports that party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting of Punjab Government’s senior officials related to power in absence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh.

The leader of opposition parties alleged that the AAP-led Punjab Government is being “remote-controlled” from Delhi, while Bhagwant Mann was dubbed as a “rubber stamp” Chief Minister.

“This (Punjab) government is running from Delhi and not from Chandigarh. Two days ago Arvind Kejriwal called Punjab's Chief Secretary, Power Secretary (to Delhi). He held a meeting in the absence of the Punjab CM. This is unconstitutional and is indirect control on Punjab,” said Punjab Congress Legislative Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa.

Punjab Congress’s former president Navjot Singh Sidhu termed the meeting a clear breach of federalism and insult to Punjabi pride.

Taking to Twitter to slam AAP leaders, Sidhu posted, “Chalane do aandhiyaan hakeekat kee, na jaane kaun se jhonke se baharoopiyon ke mukhaute ud jaen (The winds of reality blow, nobody knows when the wind will blow away the masks of deceivers)”.

“Punjab IAS officers summoned by Arvind Kejriwal in CM Bhagwant Mann's absence. This exposes the Defacto CM and Delhi remote control. A clear breach of federalism, an insult to Punjabi pride. Both must clarify,” tweeted Sidhu.

Former Chief Minister and Punjab Lok Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh also alleged that the worst fear has come true and Arvind Kejriwal has taken over Punjab long before expected.

SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema asked Mann to safeguard Punjab’s interests and ensure the State is not subject to remote control rule by AAP Government in Delhi or taken over by the Centre. “Punjabis were shocked that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was taking meetings of the Punjab Chief Secretary and the PSPCL chairman. The apprehension in the minds of people that the Punjab government would be run by remote from Delhi under AAP rule is proving to be true,” he added.

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh also lambasted Kejriwal for converting Bhagwant Mann into a "rubber stamp" chief minister. “It is a grossly unconstitutional act of the Delhi Chief Minister which has exposed the fact that only Kejriwal would be a supremo in Punjab and Bhagwant Mann would be his rubber stamp,” he said adding that it was not only an insult to the State Government officials but also a disgraceful moment for Punjab itself that it would be run by another Chief Minister from Delhi.

BJP’s another leader Manoranjan Kalia has written to the Governor Banwari Lal Purohit seeking his immediate attention and action to restrain the officers of Punjab Government from transgressing the constitutional duties “to please the so-called political master”.

He urged the Governor to ask for explanation and issue necessary instructions not to jump the parameters of constitutional duties in future.

AAP LEADERS DEFEND

Defending Kejriwal by meeting Punjab officials, AAP leaders in Punjab said that they take the AAP chief’s guidance and there was “nothing wrong in that”. “Arvind Kejriwal is our party's national convenor. We take his guidance so there is nothing wrong in that. Punjab and many other states go to Delhi to understand Arvind Kejriwal's model of governance," said AAP leaders.