Chandigarh, May 29 -- With the Aam Aadmi Party registering a strong performance in the Punjab local body elections, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that even if the seats won by the BJP, Akali Dal, and Congress are combined, they can't equal that of AAP.

Mann, who addressed a press conference, extended greetings to the people of Punjab on "rejecting those parties that seek to divide people along religious or caste lines."

"I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Punjab. They have rejected the politics of hatred and have instead given a resounding mandate in favour of development. I wish to congratulate them for rejecting those parties that seek to divide people along religious or caste lines...