After extensive campaigning in other states, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has now turned his attention towards his home state. Thursday marked the launch of Aam Aadmi Party’s ambitious endeavor — Mission AAP, 13-0 — as he introduced party’s all candidates to the people of Punjab, aiming for a resounding victory in all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the State.

“AAP candidates are not dynast politicians, they come from common backgrounds…the people who come from common families become the voice of the common people in the Parliament,” said Mann during AAP’s innovative event. He framed the upcoming elections not merely as a contest between parties but as a decisive battle to safeguard democracy against authoritarian forces.

Currently spearheading AAP's campaign across India, covering the states of Haryana, Assam, and Gujarat, in the absence of party supremo Arvind Kejriwal — who is entangled in a money laundering case linked to Delhi's excise policy, Mann announced to focus his attention on Punjab for the coming few days. He intended to traverse through all constituencies, beginning from Friday, dedicating three to four days to each segment to rally support for AAP.

“I will go to every constituency three-four times, but don't only vote for me, vote for yourself, your rights, your children, vote for our Constitution and to save our democracy, vote to end the dictatorship,” he said.

Mann added, “I'm enough to take on all the opposition leaders in Punjab, we don't have money like them, but they can't beat us when it comes to hard work and dedication...We don't have muscle power and we don't do politics of hatred, instead we do politics of work, we address your issues.”

Addressing the people, Mann cautioned against the tactics of rival parties, urging the voters not to succumb to monetary inducements from the opposition parties or their candidates. “Don't be swayed by opposition candidates who come bearing money. Don't reject them, just pocket the cash. After all, this money belongs to you….they haven’t sold any crop to earn it…It's yours…They've looted you only…So, just remember to vote for the Aam Aadmi Party,” he said in his characteristic style.

Asserting the need to break free from oppressive regimes, Mann highlighted the significance of the ‘broom’ (AAP’s symbol) symbolizing the sweeping away of tyranny. He said: “Our country is facing a massive crisis today as we have a dictator in power who only thinks about himself…he only talks about himself…he is putting the opposition leaders in jail.”

“When dictatorship, injustice and oppression is prevalent, then God uses his ‘jharoo’ to free us from all these evils. I'm just coming back from Gujarat, before that I was in Assam and Kurukshetra, everywhere people are only saying one thing, that the BJP government and Narendra Modi are scared of Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP…So, they arrested Arvind Kejriwal to stop him from campaigning in these elections.

“People are saying that they will respond to these atrocities of the BJP through their votes. ‘Jail da badla vote’ and ‘Zulm da jawab vote nal’,” said Mann adding that Arvind Kejriwal is not just a person, he is an idea…“they can put the body of Arvind Kejriwal in jail, how will they stop his thinking?”

Asserting his readiness to confront opposition leaders in Punjab, Mann reaffirmed AAP’s commitment to principled politics and vowed to transcend the allure of monetary influence through sheer hard work and dedication.

“Now it is the responsibility of every soldier of AAP to protect and advance the politics of work, transparent, and honest politics, the politics initiated by our national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. He made this party out of a movement against corruption from the Ramleela Ground. In just 10 years, we became a national party, no other political party grew like us. We have our government in two states, we have 10 Rajya Sabha MPs, we have five MLAs in Gujarat, two MLAs in Goa, we have AAP's mayor in Chandigarh, we have a Municipal Councillor in Sangroli of Madhya Pradesh and we have a majority in Delhi Municipal Corporation. BJP cannot stand the popularity of the Aam Aadmi Party and our patriotic and honest politics,” he added.

Meanwhile, AAP also introduced their 13 Lok Sabha candidates, declaring a fight “to save our democracy and Constitution from the dictatorial clutches of the BJP and Narendra Modi”. However, Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Mann introduced AAP 11 nominees for Lok Sabha candidates on the stage, two candidates — Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Laljit Singh Bhullar — were absent due to a case hearing in Tarn Taran.

AAP’s Faridkot candidate Karamjit Anmol, a famous Punjabi artist, said that soon, “13 Bhagwant Manns will be raising their voice for Punjab” in the Parliament. Cabinet Minister and party candidate from Bathinda, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, said that the Centre discriminates against Punjab, so Punjab needs strong voices in the Parliament who will defend its rights.

AAP’s chief spokesperson and candidate from Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang said: “The time when their dictatorship is reaching new heights everyday, Punjab will lead by example…’Punjab Banega Hero, es baar 13-0’…Today our democracy and our Constitution is in danger and we are going to fight this battle together and win.”

Pawan Kumar Tinu, former SAD MLA and Jalandhar candidate, said that the people of Punjab will write history in the Lok Sabha polls. Fatehgarh Sahib candidate Gurpreet Singh GP said that wherever he goes to meet people or attend events, he has only heard praises for the AAP Government and Bhagwant Mann from the people. “The people of Fatehgarh Sahib will vote for the Aam Aadmi Party, because our government has done unprecedented works in just two years,” he added.

Dr Balbir Singh, Health Minister and Patiala candidate, said that the dictatorial Modi government has made a grave mistake by arresting Arvind Kejriwal. “The people will requite this dictatorship of the BJP by throwing them out of the power. The people of Patiala are with AAP and Bhagwant Mann, they are so excited that they are confident that the party will register its biggest win in Patiala,” he added.