Addressing a gathering after inspecting the work on the canal, Mann said the previous governments overlooked the needs of the state, which led to the over-exploitation of the groundwater and maximum blocks turning into dark zones.

Speculations of a rift between CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan seem to have died down for after newspapers published photographs of the two sharing apparent bonhomie. Maan's hard work in ensuring a win in the Jalandhar West by-election proves he is a capable leader, which could have probably shut up his detractors... for the time being at least

The elections to 13,241 Panchayats are due following their dissolution and the appointment of administrators.

"I will rent a house there (Jalandhar). It is not that this house will be (rented) only up to July 10 (when the results of the by-poll will be declared). This house will later become the office for Majha and Doaba regions for two or three days every week. I will stay there," he said. 

Warring said that he was not satisfied with the action being taken by the state government to curb this menace.  "Every time a chief minister comes and presents data that he has taken action against so many persons," said Warring, asking, "How will you end drugs and how will you wean away (people) from drugs?". 

CM Mann said, "Look, that was anger. She (Kangana) had earlier spoken like this. Somewhere, there was anger in the heart of that woman (CISF constable). It (incident) should not have happened like this".

The court noted that the road was closed in the 1980s during the height of terrorism in Punjab. 

"We were separated by an iron mesh. This could be the height of their hatred. Arvind Kejriwal has asked me to tell people not to worry about him and vote. Please vote to save democracy," Mann said. 

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is set to meet his Delhi counterpart, Arvind Kejriwal, in Tihar jail on April 30, according to sources within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The Congress party convened a Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting at its New Delhi headquarters, chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, to finalise Lok Sabha candidates for Punjab and other states.

Accompanied by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, Mann disclosed that their meeting with Kejriwal, though limited to half an hour, was conducted through a glass partition, communicating via phone.