Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann faced trolling on social media following the NITI Aayog meeting on May 24, 2025, primarily due to a viral photo capturing a warm interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The image, showing Mann smiling and shaking hands with Modi during an informal chat over tea after the meeting, drew attention because of Mann’s political stance and past actions.
Mann, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had previously boycotted NITI Aayog meetings in 2023 and 2024, aligning with opposition parties like the INDIA bloc, citing issues such as the Centre’s alleged neglect of Punjab’s interests and discriminatory budget allocations. His decision to attend the 2025 meeting and the friendly demeanor in the photo with Modi sparked speculation and criticism online.
Many social media users, particularly from opposition-leaning groups, trolled Mann, accusing him of shifting loyalties or softening his stance against the BJP-led Centre, given AAP’s history of confrontational politics with the Modi government.
The phrase “siyasi adab” (political courtesy) used in some reports to describe Mann’s gesture further fueled memes and sarcastic comments, with users questioning whether this marked a change in AAP’s opposition strategy.
Additionally, the context of the meeting—focused on the “Viksit Bharat@2047” vision—and Mann’s participation alongside other opposition chief ministers like MK Stalin and Revanth Reddy, who also engaged cordially with Modi, amplified the narrative of political optics. Some users mocked Mann for what they perceived as inconsistency, referencing his earlier criticisms of the Centre over issues like farmer welfare and rural development funds. Others, however, defended Mann, arguing that attending the meeting and maintaining decorum was in Punjab’s interest to secure developmental support.
Explain AAP’s past boycotts
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, has boycotted NITI Aayog meetings in the past as a form of protest against the policies and actions of the BJP-led central government. These boycotts were primarily driven by AAP’s allegations of discriminatory treatment and neglect of states governed by opposition parties, including Punjab, where AAP has been in power since 2022 under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Below is an overview of AAP’s past boycotts of NITI Aayog meetings, based on available information:
2023 Boycott (8th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting, May 27, 2023):
Context: The 8th Governing Council meeting was convened to discuss key issues like the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, health, skill development, and infrastructure. AAP, along with other opposition-ruled states like Delhi, Punjab, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, boycotted this meeting.
Reasons for Boycott: Central Government’s Alleged Bias: AAP claimed that the central government was withholding funds and support for opposition-ruled states. Specifically, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal criticized the Centre for not releasing funds under schemes like the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and the Market Development Fund for Punjab, which they argued hampered state development.
Political Tensions: The boycott was also a response to the Centre’s ordinance on control over services in Delhi, which AAP saw as an attempt to undermine its governance in the national capital. Kejriwal called the boycott a “freeze” on attending NITI Aayog meetings until the Centre addressed these grievances.
Solidarity with Other Opposition Parties: AAP joined other INDIA bloc members, such as West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu’s MK Stalin, in boycotting the meeting to protest what they described as the Centre’s “anti-federal” policies and stepmotherly treatment of non-BJP states.
Impact: The boycott highlighted the growing rift between opposition-ruled states and the Centre, with AAP framing NITI Aayog as a body lacking financial authority and serving merely as a discussion platform with little tangible outcome for states.
2024 Boycott (9th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting, July 27, 2024):
Context: The 9th meeting focused on making India a $30 trillion economy by 2047 and addressing state-specific developmental issues. AAP, along with several other opposition parties, again boycotted the meeting.
Reasons for Boycott:Union Budget 2024 Grievances: AAP accused the central government of presenting a “discriminatory” Union Budget that neglected Punjab’s needs, particularly in agriculture, rural development, and infrastructure funding. Mann and Kejriwal claimed the budget favored BJP-allied states while ignoring opposition-ruled ones.
Punjab-Specific Issues: Mann highlighted the Centre’s failure to release Punjab’s pending funds, including ₹10,000 crore for rural development and farmers’ welfare, and its refusal to support initiatives like canal water projects for irrigation, which Punjab had proposed.
Political Messaging: The boycott was part of AAP’s broader strategy to position itself as a staunch critic of the Modi government’s policies, aligning with the INDIA bloc’s narrative of resisting central overreach and advocating for federal fairness.
Outcome: The boycott drew attention to AAP’s demands for equitable fund allocation but also led to criticism from BJP leaders, who accused opposition parties of politicizing a cooperative platform meant for national development.
What happened in 2025? Bhagwant Mann attended the NITI Aayog meeting.:
Bhagwant Mann’s decision to attend the 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on May 24, 2025, marked a shift from AAP’s boycott strategy in 2023 and 2024. This change, coupled with the viral photo of Mann’s friendly interaction with PM Modi, led to social media trolling, as it was perceived by some as a departure from AAP’s earlier confrontational stance.
Mann justified his attendance by emphasizing the need to represent Punjab’s interests, such as securing funds for agriculture and infrastructure, and engaging constructively with the Centre.
Broader Context: AAP’s boycotts reflect a pattern of opposition-led protests against NITI Aayog meetings, which opposition parties have often criticized as lacking decision-making power and serving as a tool for the Centre to push its agenda. The boycotts were strategic moves to highlight issues like federalism, state autonomy, and equitable resource distribution, while also rallying political support against the BJP ahead of elections.