Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal have launched the Rs 50 billion Roshan Punjab campaign, a major power sector reform initiative aimed at making Punjab the first state in India free from power cuts. Speaking at the launch, Arvind Kejriwal said that despite severe floods in the state, Punjab’s resilient people have shown remarkable strength. He described Roshan Punjab as a historic initiative, marking a new era in the state’s power sector. For the first time, such a large investment is being directed towards transforming Punjab’s transmission and distribution network, ensuring uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply by next year. The project will include setting up new substations and power lines, reducing feeder loads, and modernising infrastructure. Kejriwal said the reforms would eliminate voltage fluctuations, particularly in rural and remote areas, by upgrading outdated substations and electrical systems. In urban areas, projects have been initiated across 13 municipal corporations to improve the Low Tension (LT) network. Works include removing unnecessary wires, raising low-hanging cables, replacing old lines, and sealing open meter boxes to enhance public safety. Initially piloted in West Ludhiana, the scheme is now being extended to all 87 municipal subdivisions, with completion targeted by June 2026. For consumer convenience, a 24-hour call centre has been established in Mohali, accessible via helpline number 1912, staffed by 180 employees. Kejriwal also highlighted Punjab’s pioneering policy of providing 600 units of free electricity per household, noting that 90 per cent of homes now have zero electricity bills. He further announced that the state had bought a private power plant, now renamed after Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, marking the first instance of a government purchasing a private facility. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann credited Kejriwal’s leadership for reshaping political priorities in India, placing education, healthcare, and energy at the centre of governance. He said power is the lifeline of the economy, and Punjab’s efforts have ensured uninterrupted supply to domestic, industrial, and agricultural users. Mann also pointed to the resumption of coal supply from the Pachwara mine, inactive since 2015, which has made Punjab coal-surplus. In contrast to other states selling assets cheaply, the government purchased the Goindwal Power Plant from GVK Power, renaming it after Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. Highlighting the state’s employment drive, Mann said 55,000 government jobs have been provided based on merit and transparency. He also mentioned the government’s ongoing campaign ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ to eradicate drug abuse, and initiatives such as Schools of Eminence, where hundreds of students have cleared national entrance exams including JEE and NEET. Further, he announced that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been established, providing free medicines to over 17.5 million people, with the number expected to cross 1,000 soon. Mann affirmed that his government remains committed to “illuminating Punjab” by eradicating every form of darkness—social, economic, and infrastructural. Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, Lok Sabha MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, and several senior officials were present at the launch.