Water sharing: Bhagwant Mann’s move ‘bid’ to block BJP’s growth in Punjab

Punjab’s refusal to release additional water to Haryana is being seen in political circles as a move to checkmate the BJP, which is trying to make inroads into Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.

As a political slugfest erupts between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini over water sharing, the BJP government in Haryana is suspecting politics behind Punjab’s move, which threatens to snowball into a major confrontation between the two neighbours.

The decision has to be seen in the wake of Saini stepping up his political activities, with at least seven visits to Punjab since January to strengthen the party organisation. Apparently uncomfortable with forays of the CM into Punjab, that too belonging to a rival party, the AAP government used the pretext of “inadequate water” in its reservoirs to cut Haryana’s supply by nearly 60% from 9,500 cusecs to 4,000 cusecs daily.

“After losing power in Delhi to the BJP, the AAP is rattled by the BJP’s growing presence in Punjab in view of the elections. Mann’s statement clearly shows that he wants to politicise the issue to take political mileage,” Rajeev Jaitely, media adviser to Haryana CM, said.

Saini also underlined the fact that the Bhagwant Mann government had no objection to releasing Haryana’s quota till there was an AAP government in Delhi. It is only after the AAP lost the Delhi election and the BJP formed the government that Punjab took the coercive action, Saini claimed, adding that 500 cusecs from Haryana’s quota was released to Delhi daily for meeting its drinking water needs.

Another reason given for Punjab’s decision is that Mann, who has uneasy relations with certain farmers’ unions in Punjab, is trying to emerge as the saviour of the state’s waters. He is trying to rally the Punjab peasantry behind the AAP to buck anti-incumbency.

The BJP has decided to pitch Saini, the OBC face of the party, to drum up support for the party for the upcoming elections. After losing power to the BJP in Delhi, the AAP, which has government only in one state now — Punjab — is naturally jittery in view of the BJP’s attempt to expand its base in Punjab.

Haryana Tribune