Punjab's ‘Power Surplus’ claims exist only in ads; villages face long outages: BJP's Rajwinder Singh Lucky
Pramod Bharti
Nawanshahr (Punjab), June 30, 2026: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district president Rajwinder Singh Lucky on Tuesday criticised the Punjab Government over the ongoing power shortage during the paddy transplantation season, alleging that claims of Punjab being a "power surplus" state do not match the situation on the ground.
Addressing a press conference, Lucky said protests by farmers in several parts of the state over prolonged power cuts have raised serious questions about the government's assurances of uninterrupted electricity supply.
He claimed that farmers have staged demonstrations, grid gheraos and road blockades in districts including Amritsar, Sangrur, Mansa, Patiala, Bathinda and Sri Muktsar Sahib, while villages in the Balachaur area are also experiencing extended power outages.
According to the BJP leader, Punjab's electricity demand rises significantly during the paddy transplantation season, but the state government has failed to adequately manage supply and demand.
He alleged that despite promises of eight hours of uninterrupted power for the agricultural sector, many farmers are receiving only three to four hours of irregular electricity supply.
Calling the situation a failure of power management, Lucky questioned the government's preparedness to handle the seasonal rise in electricity demand. He also raised concerns about the operational status of thermal power units in the state and asked whether sufficient backup arrangements had been made ahead of the paddy season.
The BJP leader alleged that inadequate electricity supply has forced many farmers to rely on diesel generators for irrigation, increasing cultivation costs and adding to financial pressure on the farming community.
Accusing the Aam Aadmi Party government of focusing more on publicity than governance, Lucky claimed that the state's "power surplus" narrative was not reflected in the conditions being faced by rural consumers and farmers.
He urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to address the concerns of farmers affected by power shortages and ensure adequate electricity supply during the crucial paddy cultivation season.
Advocate Aman Rana and Baba Gurmeet Singh Bakapur were also present during the media interaction.