It was with great hope and high expectations that the people of Punjab handed over the reins of power to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in March 2022. The party had promised a clean, honest, and development-focused government, with commitments to transform the education and healthcare sectors, create massive job opportunities, end the drug menace, and bring back good governance. However, more than two years into its tenure, the Bhagwant Mann-led government has failed to deliver on most of its major promises. Instead, the state is grappling with rising debt, unfulfilled projects, and growing public dissatisfaction.
One of the most glaring issues has been the government’s over-reliance on loans. Since coming to power, the AAP government has borrowed over ₹50,000 crore, including a fresh ₹1,000 crore loan recently. Despite such heavy borrowing, there is little to show on the ground in terms of actual development. Big-ticket announcements such as the establishment of a Sports University in Jalandhar and 16 new medical colleges across Punjab have not materialized. Neither of these projects has moved beyond the planning stage, leaving people questioning where the borrowed money is being spent.
Promises made to the youth regarding employment have also proven hollow. AAP had pledged to provide one lakh government jobs in its first year. That target remains unmet, and the job crisis in Punjab continues to push educated youth out of the state in search of better opportunities abroad. The government’s claims of improving schools and launching mohalla clinics have also seen limited success. While a few schools have been renovated for photo opportunities, the majority of government schools still suffer from poor infrastructure and a shortage of staff. Mohalla clinics, touted as a game-changing healthcare model, are either sparsely located or poorly equipped, failing to meet the needs of the population.
A particularly controversial and disappointing aspect of the Mann government has been its excessive dependence on AAP’s central leadership based in Delhi. Despite holding no constitutional role in Punjab, AAP’s Delhi-based ministers, advisors, and media handlers have been frequently involved in Punjab’s decision-making processes. Shockingly, more than ₹45 crore of Punjab’s public money has reportedly been spent on this Delhi team — including expenses on luxurious hotel stays, chartered flights, and media campaigns. This wastage of taxpayer money has angered citizens, especially when critical sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture are starved of funds. People rightfully ask: what benefit has Punjab received from this Delhi-dominated setup?
Farmers, too, feel betrayed. The government that promised to support their cause is now pushing controversial land acquisition projects. In Ludhiana and other districts, farmers allege their land is being forcibly acquired for urban estate projects that were never demanded by the public. This has triggered widespread protests. Adding to their woes, the promise of a complete farm loan waiver — a major election plank — has been conveniently forgotten by the government.
On the issue of drugs and law & order, the situation remains grim. Despite early publicity about cracking down on drug networks, the ground reality is that drug trafficking continues unabated. Drug-related deaths and crime incidents are on the rise, and there is no long-term plan in sight to tackle this crisis. Meanwhile, political vendettas and showpiece arrests have replaced genuine policing reforms, further eroding public trust in the administration.
In conclusion, the AAP government in Punjab has so far proven to be more about slogans than substance. Grand announcements, Delhi-style publicity, and high-profile advertisements have failed to translate into real change for the people of Punjab. Instead, the state is sinking deeper into debt, critical promises remain unmet, and public confidence in the government is steadily eroding. The people of Punjab voted for transformation, but all they have received is disappointment.