Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament from Sri Anandpur Sahib, Malvinder Singh Kang, on Monday made a heartfelt appeal to the people of Punjab to vote in large numbers in favour of AAP candidates in the municipal corporation, municipal council, and municipal committee elections being held across the state on May 26.

Kang said that voting will take place tomorrow (May 26) in several municipal bodies across Punjab, including various municipal committees falling under the Sri Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency as well as the Mohali Municipal Corporation. He appealed to all voters of Punjab to strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann by ensuring the victory of AAP candidates with an overwhelming mandate.

Kang said that local bodies and municipal institutions play a crucial role in improving the lives of people living in urban and semi-urban areas. He stated that these institutions directly contribute towards better civic infrastructure, public facilities, cleanliness, development works, and resolving day-to-day problems faced by residents.

Highlighting the work done by the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government over the past four years, Kang said that the AAP government has taken several major initiatives to improve the quality of life of people and strengthen urban infrastructure across Punjab.

Making an appeal to voters, Kang urged the people to come out in maximum numbers and cast their votes in favour of AAP candidates wherever elections are being held in Punjab. He specifically mentioned Mohali Municipal Corporation and municipal committees including Naya Gaon, Kurali, Chamkaur Sahib, Rupnagar, Kiratpur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Nangal, Garhshankar, Banga, and Nawanshahr among others, where polling is scheduled to take place.

Kang reiterated that the people of Punjab should support honest and development-oriented politics by electing AAP candidates and further strengthening the Bhagwant Mann government’s mission of progress and public welfare across the state.

Punjab is significantly strengthening high-risk maternal and neonatal healthcare through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, ensuring that complicated deliveries and critical newborn care are accessible to families without financial burden.

A major study based on India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) survey found that nearly one in every two pregnancies in the country is high-risk. Factors such as poor education, poverty, short gaps between pregnancies, previous birth complications and caesarean deliveries increase dangers for both mother and baby. Researchers say women from vulnerable backgrounds face the highest risks, highlighting the urgent need for stronger maternal healthcare and awareness programmes

The Sehat Card has emerged as a critical support mechanism for women requiring surgical intervention during childbirth due to complications such as prolonged labour, maternal health conditions, fetal distress and previous cesarean deliveries. According to official data received from the State Health Agency (SHA), as on May 25, a total of 7,300 maternity and neonatal care cases were treated under the scheme with expenditure amounting to ₹7.04 crore. Of these, 5,300 were high-risk caesarean deliveries accounting for ₹6.37 crore, reflecting the growing role of the scheme in supporting high-risk pregnancies and emergency obstetric care across Punjab.

Speaking about personal experience, beneficiary Deepika, a 28-year-old woman from Patiala who faced pregnancy complications including anaemia, shares that she underwent a successful caesarean delivery fully covered under the Sehat Card. Her husband Manoj shared that they were very happy that the procedures went smoothly and stress free with the cashless card.

Similarly, another beneficiary, Diksha Sonkar, aged 31, received timely maternal and neonatal care during the birth of her third child at PIMS Medical College Hospital, with all treatment expenses covered cashlessly. Her husband Vikas Sonkar said, “We have two daughters and we were worried if there would be any complications in the third delivery.”

Vikas further says that life becomes deeply stressful the moment someone in the family has to be taken to a hospital. “Even the mention of hospital instills fear in us,” he says. Working as a daily wage labourer, he explains that medical emergencies often push families like his into debt. “Anytime there is a medical emergency, we have to borrow money on interest,” he says, reflecting the harsh reality faced by many low-income workers struggling to afford healthcare. “But with the Sehat Card, everything has been taken care of,” he adds.

Alongside maternal care, the scheme is also providing extensive neonatal treatment support for critically ill and premature newborns requiring specialised medical intervention.

Official data from SHA, Punjab shows that 2094 infants received neonatal treatment under different care packages covered by the scheme. Basic Neonatal Care, which supports newborns managed alongside their mothers, covered 881 infants with treatment expenditure of ₹5.82lakh.

Similarly, 777 infants requiring short-term ICU admission benefitted under the Special Neonatal Care Package with expenditure reaching ₹28.27 lakh. The Intensive Neonatal Care Package supported 207 newborns requiring CPAP support, ventilation for less than 24 hours, or treatment for conditions such as neonatal sepsis, with treatment costs amounting to ₹15.65 lakh.

Official data further revealed that 116 highly vulnerable infants weighing between 1,200 and 1,499 grams or requiring prolonged ventilator support received Advanced Neonatal Care under the scheme at a cost of ₹9.30 lakh.

Critical Neonatal Care for babies suffering from extreme prematurity, multi-system complications or severe medical instability benefitted 64 infants with expenditure of ₹7.88lakh. In addition, prolonged chronic neonatal care support was provided to 18 infants. Also, chronic neonatal care included 17 infants, who required prolonged treatment for conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotising enterocoloitis, worth ₹56 thousand.

The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is emerging as a major healthcare safeguard for families across the state. So far, approximately 44.8 lakh registrations have been made under the scheme.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) suffered a major political setback in Punjab, while the Aam Aadmi Party has gained significant strength in Majha. On Monday, senior Akali leader, former Rajya Sabha Member and Head of the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Rajmohinder Singh Majitha, joined the Aam Aadmi Party.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann welcomed Rajmohinder Singh Majitha into the Aam Aadmi Party. Along with Rajmohinder Singh Majitha, former RTI Commissioner Heminder Singh Majitha and Chief Khalsa Diwan member Sukhdeep Singh Majitha also joined the AAP. Majitha constituency in-charge Talbir Singh Gill was also present on the occasion.

CM Mann said that people and leaders from different sections of society are continuously joining the party after being impressed by the state government’s development work and pro-people policies.

Congratulating all the leaders who joined the party, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wrote on X, “Today marks a very significant and important addition to the Aam Aadmi Party family. Eminent personalities from Punjab’s religious, social, and political spheres, former Rajya Sabha Member and head of Chief Khalsa Diwan S. Rajmohinder Singh Majitha Ji, former RTI Commissioner Heminder Singh Majitha Ji, and current Chief Khalsa Diwan member Sukhdeep Singh Majitha Ji, have joined the AAP family after being impressed by the party’s pro-people policies. I extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to all of them into the party.”

Mann added, “The support of such experienced leaders, who are deeply committed to the welfare and betterment of Punjab, will further strengthen the dream of building a ‘Rangla Punjab’. AAP government remains continuously committed to the progress, prosperity, and well-being of Punjab.”