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

AAP’s Harjot Bains took centre stage at the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur in Anandpur Sahib, overseeing large-scale arrangements, even as the absence of a district announcement drew local disappointment.

4 min readUpdated: Nov 26, 2025 10:29 AM IST

Punjab minister Harjot Bains.

With his posters dotting the roads leading to Anandpur Sahib and the city, Education Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Anandpur Sahib, Harjot Bains remained in focus during the commemoration of 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur.

Bains, who walked barefoot during all three days of the function, wore shoes only after the bhog of completion of akhand path Tuesday. He even attended the special session of Vidhan Sabha while being barefoot.

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.

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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.”

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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.”

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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