Polls won, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann now faces acid test of curbing unemployment, drugs
India Today
Bhagwant Mann took oath as the CM of Punjab on March 16. What are the challenges he faces now and what are the expectations of people from the new state government?
When Aam Aadmi Party leader Bhagwant Mann took oath as Punjab’s 17th Chief Minister on March 16, he took on the challenge of providing an alternative to the state of politics in Punjab.
After his swearing-in in Khatkar Kalan, the former comedian-actor told the people that he would not ridicule the Opposition or indulge in petty politics. “I will not indulge in petty politics,” Bhagwant Mann said.
If the AAP government is to fulfil its promises, unemployment, mining mafia, and drug menace would be among the top challenges on Mann’s agenda. Taking promising steps in the direction of forming a ‘people’s government’, Mann moved away from the tradition of taking oath at the Raj Bhavan and held the ceremony at a public place in the native village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, Khatkar Kalan. He also forbade officials from hanging his photo at government offices. Instead, there will be pictures of Bhagat Singh and BR Ambedkar, Bhagwant Mann said.
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But the biggest challenge is now to deliver on the promises that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had made during the election campaign. This will be a tough task for the debt-ridden state.
Punjab is estimated to have a debt of Rs 3 lakh crore rupees. Systematic corruption in the government, the mining mafia, crumbling health and education infrastructure and worse, the drugs menace across the state will be a big challenge for the newly-appointed chief minister.
Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann had promised to boost health and education infrastructure. They had also assured the people of the state of taking on the drugs and mining mafia and curbing corruption. Even during the oath-taking ceremony, Bhagwant Mann said his government would focus on not just health and education but make Punjab a better place.
