To deepen Doaba connect, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to spend 2 days a week in ‘2nd home’

Ruchika M Khanna

Chandigarh, July 10

The bypoll in Jalandhar is over, but Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will continue to spend two days a week in Jalandhar, which is now his “second home”.

His Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) as well as his wife Dr Gurpreet Kaur will also go there to keep the connect with the people of Doaba intact.

“I have given my word and will ensure that for twice a week, the government will run from Jalandhar,” Mann told The Tribune. “My new house will always be open for the public. They can come and air their concerns and I assure them that these will be resolved immediately,” he added.

Thanks voters

I express my thanks to voters of Jalandhar West. You fulfilled your responsibility by stepping out of your houses to cast vote in a peaceful manner. You have proved yourselves as responsible citizens for which I am grateful to you. Your valuable votes will contribute to the development of this segment. —Bhagwant Mann, CM

Mann said he and his family had received love from voters of Jalandhar and he had decided to help them by ensuring that the government provided all facilities at their doorstep. It would save them from making visits to Chandigarh.

“Assi koi Kaka Ji, Raja Sahib nahin haan (referring to Opposition leaders)”. People have brought us to power only because they feel we are one of them,” said the Chief Minister, who is also the state unit chief of the Aam Aadmi Party.

When asked about his wife participating in the campaign, the CM said, “As a new mother, it was difficult for my wife to leave our little daughter everyday in the care of her two grandmothers and campaign from morning to evening. But she has also learnt that sewa is the real dharma. People connected with us because we are not VIP leaders of the Congress or Akali Dal, but we continue to be the aam aadmi,” he said.

Mann scoffed at his political opponents for raising the issue of the CM campaigning in the streets of Jalandhar for a bypoll. “They were upset that I am directly mingling with the people. They think of themselves as being in a different league than the common man,” he said.

He said even in Chandigarh, his is an open house. “MLAs, party workers all come here and I listen to the public and then frame policies that will benefit them. No one in the past has framed policy in public interest. Governments in the past had worked only for the rich and famous,” he said.

Mann also listed the opening of 23 Mukh Mantri Sahayta Kendras in all districts within 18 days as a significant achievement in his endeavour of bringing good governance.