“Mann stated to reporters that the President has scheduled the meeting for 12 noon on May 5, and he will definitely meet President Murmu.”
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated on Wednesday that he will meet President Droupadi Murmu on May 5 regarding the merger of seven AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha with the BJP.
Mann had previously requested a meeting with the President, accompanied by party MLAs, to advocate for the “recall” of the state’s Rajya Sabha MPs who aligned with the BJP.
“Mann stated to reporters here that the President has scheduled the meeting for 12 noon on May 5, and he will definitely meet her.”
However, he did not specify whether all MLAs would be part of the delegation. On April 24, the Aam Aadmi Party suffered a jolt when seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney and Swati Maliwal quit and merged with the BJP.
Meanwhile, addressing other issues including paddy cultivation, the Chief Minister said water will be released in upgraded canals from May 1, highlighting that water management becomes particularly important during this period.
He said water is being released early, with 21,000 cusecs to be discharged on Wednesday, which will reach people by May 1. He added that the supply would be beneficial for horticulture.
The Chief Minister stated that the state requires water for rice farming and is striving to lessen reliance on tube wells by enhancing canal utilization. He stated that by March 2026, Rs 6,700 crore has been utilized for canals and pipelines.
He also mentioned that recharge points have been established to elevate underground water levels, leading to a rise of two to four meters. Approximately 21 lakh cubic metres of water has likewise been replenished underground.
On paddy plantation, Mann said the state has preponed sowing to June 1 and divided Punjab into four zones for a staggered schedule. Direct seeding will take place from May 15 to May 31, with eight hours of water supply. Farmers adopting the puddling method will receive water from June 1.
From June 5, Muktsar and Bathinda zones will get eight hours of supply, while Malerkotla, Barnala and SBS Nagar districts will receive water from June 9. Separately, he said 15 Indians have been deported from Australia, of whom 11 are from Punjab, including one woman.
Two are from Telangana and one from Haryana. A government team is being sent to receive them, and they are expected to arrive on Wednesday, Mann added.
