The political landscape in Punjab has been ignited by a fierce confrontation between the state's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the central administration over the future of a flagship rural employment scheme. The flashpoint emerged after the Bhagwant Mann-led government passed a sharp resolution in a special Assembly session on December 30, 2025, condemning the Centre's move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Act.
A Resolution for Rights and Federalism
The resolution, passed during the one-day session, accuses the Union government of undermining the livelihood security of Punjab's most vulnerable populations. It states that poor labourers, women, and Dalit families, who have historically relied on the guaranteed employment provided by MGNREGA, are now under threat. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his AAP colleagues have framed the central move as an attempt to "snatch away bread from the poor" and dilute a crucial economic safety net for rural households.
To underscore their point, AAP legislators entered the Assembly carrying letters purportedly written by MGNREGA workers, voicing their anxieties about the new Act. The debate has rapidly expanded beyond the scheme itself, touching on core issues of workers' rights, corruption, federalism, and electoral politics. Both the AAP and the principal opposition Congress have drawn parallels between this controversy and the now-repealed three farm laws.
Political Crossfire and Accusations
The resolution has triggered a sharp political crossfire. The AAP trained its guns not only on the BJP but also on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). AAP spokesperson Neel Garg accused the SAD of being "hand-in-glove" with the BJP and wriggling like a fish to strike an alliance, thereby overlooking the concerns of Punjab's farmers and workers. He recalled the SAD's stance during the farm law protests, alleging the party had turned its back on farmers then as well.
The SAD promptly dismissed these allegations as "mischievous lies and politically motivated." In a statement, the party asserted it has consistently raised concerns about corruption in MGNREGA implementation under both Congress and AAP regimes and demanded impartial probes. It accused the Mann government of using the issue to divert attention from its own failures.
The BJP also launched a counterattack. State BJP chief Sunil Jakhar slammed the AAP for holding a special session, calling it propaganda to cover up governance failures. He challenged the CM to act on his own admission of corruption in MGNREGA. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan added fuel to the fire by alleging 10,653 cases of financial irregularities in the scheme's implementation in Punjab, with no recoveries made. He pointed out that social audits were conducted in only 5,915 of the state's over 13,000 gram panchayats.
Stakes for Voters and Upcoming Protests
The renaming and perceived overhaul of MGNREGA presents a significant political challenge in Punjab, as the scheme involves two key voter blocs: women and Scheduled Castes (SCs). In the current financial year, women constitute over 68% of the MGNREGA workforce in the state. The BJP has been actively wooing SC communities through welfare camps. Any perception that the new Act dilutes the original scheme's benefits risks alienating these crucial groups.
On the ground, while larger labour organisations have been cautious, MGNREGA workers under the banner of Sanjha Mazdoor Morcha (SMM) have begun protests. Union leaders have expressed skepticism about the political motives behind the letters collected by AAP MLAs, calling it "data collection for political parties." Tarsem Peter of the Pendu Mazdoor Union questioned the AAP's timing, stating the issue should have been raised before the Bill was passed in Parliament.
The Congress party is preparing to escalate the confrontation. State Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring declared the VB-G RAM G a "black law" aimed at snatching livelihoods. The party will begin protests against the Centre's move on January 5, 2026, with the state unit launching a "save MGNREGA" movement from Gurdaspur on January 8, 2026.
The scale of the scheme in Punjab underscores its importance: the state has 13,304 gram panchayats and 30.15 lakh registered MGNREGA workers this financial year. However, data reveals a concerning trend: from April to December 2025, average employment per household stood at 27.02 days, a drop from 37.63 days in 2024-25. Only 7.49 lakh households have received work so far this year, highlighting the ongoing challenges in employment generation that now form the backdrop of this heated political war.
