"Ek Tha Joker": Congress Hits Back At Bhagwant Mann's Remarks, Pawan Khera Says Punjab CM And BJP Both Have Same Dreams

On Monday (1 January), the Congress party retaliated against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's remarks that the veteran party has been consigned to history in Punjab and Delhi.

Pawan Khera, a Congress leader, responded to Mann's claims by drawing parallels between the ideologies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He accused them both of nurturing a vision for a "Congress-mukt Bharat" or a Congress-free India.

Khera subtly jabbed at Mann, stating, "Incidentally, there's a Bhojpuri film titled 'Ek Tha Joker'. Perhaps you've watched it?"

A number of Congress leaders from Punjab, such as Partap Singh Bajwa, have shown hesitation in forming a coalition with the currently governing AAP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, attributing their reluctance to the feelings of the party's rank and file in the state.

During a press conference, when questioned about the alleged hesitation of state Congress leaders to form a coalition with AAP, Mann humorously responded. He said, "In Punjab and Delhi, mothers could narrate the shortest story in the world to their children - Ek Thi Congress (there was once a Congress)."

Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the AAP and Chief Minister of Delhi, delineated the party's grand plan to expand its organisational presence throughout the nation on Sunday.

Asserting that the party would actively participate in election campaigns and endeavor to win all possible seats under the INDI Alliance, Kejriwal made his ambitions clear.

During the online conference of the National Council and National Executive of AAP, Kejriwal stated that the party will establish its organisation across the nation. He emphasised that without a robust organisation, winning elections would not be feasible.

The party chief stated that AAP, as a member of the INDI Alliance, will robustly compete in the elections for any seats they are allocated and are confident of securing a win on all fronts.