Chandigarh, March 12 -- Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday slammed the opposition, accusing it of abandoning the budget debate because it could not defend its criticism of his government's new scheme to give Rs.1,000 per month to women.

Concluding the debate on the budget estimates for 2026-27 in the state assembly, amid a boycott by the main opposition party, the Congress, CM Mann said his government has fulfilled all poll promises and will now introduce additional welfare schemes as a 'bonus' for the people.

"The government is now preparing its agenda for the 2027 assembly elections. Opposition parties had earlier claimed that free electricity could not be provided, yet the Punjab Government successfully fulfilled the promise. ...