Making a passionate appeal to the people of Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday urged them to reject candidates using money and muscle power in the upcoming panchayat elections.

Mann, speaking at his native village – Satauj, reiterated his government’s commitment to promote a fair, peaceful, and transparent election process. Mann emphasized the importance of panchayat polls as the foundation of the democratic system, particularly at the grassroots level, and called for villagers to unanimously elect their panchayat members for the holistic development of their communities.

He highlighted the Government’s incentive program where villages, electing panchayats unanimously, would receive a grant of Rs five lakh, along with additional developmental infrastructure such as stadiums, schools, or hospitals. He stressed that the unified election of panchayats would foster communal harmony, strengthen social bonds, and expedite developmental projects in the villages.

Mann reminded the gathering that panchayat elections in the State would be contested without party symbols, a decision taken by the State Government to curb factionalism and groupism in rural areas. “This move ensures that candidates are elected based on merit and their potential to contribute to the overall development of their villages, rather than political affiliations…The Panchayat should represent the village and not any political party,” he said.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the people to act as responsible citizens by rejecting any forms of manipulation, especially through the use of wealth or coercion, during the election process. He expressed his belief that villages which choose their representatives unanimously set a positive example for other communities across the state. “I urge you to elect panchayats with unity, without the interference of money or force, for the benefit of the entire village,” Mann stated.

Mann assured that his government is focused on the holistic development of Punjab’s rural areas, with a special emphasis on improving the quality of life in villages. He shared his vision of empowering rural communities through a strengthened panchayati raj system, where educated, honest, and intelligent individuals should be elected to lead local bodies. The Chief Minister assured villagers that there would be no shortage of funds for developmental activities, pledging to transform Satauj into a model village for the state.

“Poverty will not be eradicated through mere speeches,” he declared, emphasizing that education is the key to improving the living standards of the rural population. Mann also highlighted his government’s efforts to provide employment to the youth, sharing that over 44,000 jobs have already been generated for young people across Punjab.

Mann also assured the people of Punjab that any central law deemed against the interests of the state would not be implemented. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of the people, vowing that no effort would be spared in defending Punjab’s interests from policies that could adversely affect the state’s rural and agricultural communities.

In the end, the Chief Minister once again urged the villagers across the State to take pride in their heritage and collaborate to ensure peaceful and constructive elections. He expressed confidence that the panchayats chosen in this democratic process would act as catalysts for village development, ultimately leading to the prosperity of the entire region.