On posters and walking barefoot, Bains drew attention for good and bad

As we mark the 350th year of the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, I humbly request everyone to use this hashtag today to honour Guru Sahibs Supreme Sacrifice. 🙏

The nation we proudly call ours today stands upon the foundation of his unmatched courage, sacrifice, and… pic.twitter.com/4usp0f33bU

— Harjot Singh Bains (@harjotbains) November 25, 2025

Anandpur Sahib was chosen for the commemoration events considering its association with the ninth Sikh Guru and Bains represents the Assembly segment. The entire government machinery worked overtime for commemoration function. It took more than a month to set up the tent city and the Vidhan Sabha at Bhai Jaita Ji memorial. Invites were sent to Prime Minister, President, Union ministers, Chief Ministers of 28 states, farmers leaders and other political leaders. The government made arrangements for the parking of tractors and trolleys and toilets so that people do not face inconvenience at any point. A light and sound show with 500 drones was arranged.

Bains worked overtime to oversee arrangements. He uploaded videos while overseeing the arrangements even at night-time. Even his rivals acknowledged his efforts, terming the commemorative function a “one man show.”

It was widely expected that an announcement will be made from the floor of the Vidhan Sabha declaring Anandpur Sahib as Punjab’s 24th district. It, however, did not happen. This gave his political opponents, both within and outside the party, a handle to mock him. “I am thankful to the CM that he did not make an announcement of an independent district. His (Bains’) stock would have gone up. It helps us now,” said a rival.

The sentiment of festivity in Anandpur Sahib turned into disappointment after the special session of Vidhan Sabha. A resident summed it up: “They spent crores on setting up Vidhan Sabha, tent city and making other arrangements. They do not have money to set up a district. If so much of government paraphernalia was in city for so many days, we expected an announcement”.

It was after this sentiment that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann made an announcement of setting up a world-class university in Anandpur Sahib on concluding day of the function on Tuesday.

The posters of 350th year celebrations, with only Bains’ pictures were also a talking point of the function. A source close to Bains, however, said, “Earlier CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s posters had been put up. Then it was felt that Bains was the local MLA. His posters came later. The political rivals can make anything out of that.”

The city also witnessed people from far and wide. On the concluding day, however, the government’s Buddha Chaunni venue had lesser footfall compared to Gurdwara Sis Ganj, where SGPC had organised a function. “Devotees would have thronged to the Gurdwara anyway. It was not about who was organising the function,” said a functionary.

Bains told The Indian Express, “Announcements were a part of the function. My focus was to hold a religious function successfully. We worked hard and did not leave any stone unturned.”