logo
Who is Anmol Gagan Maan? AAP MLA resigns from her party, also quits politics

Who is Anmol Gagan Maan? AAP MLA resigns from her party, also quits politics

Mint19-07-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Anmol Gagan Maan on Saturday tendered her resignation from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and later announced her decision to quit politics, too.
Maan sent her resignation to the Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, without giving any reasons behind her decision. In a message on X, Maan wrote in Punjabi, 'My heart is heavy, but I have decided to leave politics. My resignation from the post of MLA to the Speaker should be accepted. My best wishes are with the party. I hope the Punjab government will live up to the expectations of the people.'
There was no immediate reaction from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Party sources said Maan resigned a few days ago and the party had tried to persuade her to reconsider her decision, news agency PTI reported.
According to a PTI report, the 35-year-old singer-turned-politician won her maiden election from the Kharar Assembly constituency in 2022. She had defeated Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Ranjit Sing Gill from the Kharar seat by a margin of 37,885 votes in the 2022 assembly polls.
Hailing from Mansa district, Maan began her political career after the AAP in July 2020. According to her 2022 poll affidavit, Maan has studied till Class 12, the report said.
Before taking a plunge into politics, Maan had made her name in the Punjabi music industry. She sang many songs like 'Suit', 'Ghaint Purpose', 'Sherni', 'Zamantan', 'Golden Girl', 'Royal Jatti', 'Red Fulkari' and 'Velly'.
She later became AAP youth wing co-president and actively participated in the party's protest programmes and took on the then Congress regime before the assembly polls, the report said.
She also sang a campaign song – 'Kejriwal hai' – for the Aam Aadmi Party before the 2022 assembly elections.
Before the 2022 assembly polls, Maan had said that if AAP comes to power, the government would give the MSP on each crop 'within five minutes'. The opposition leaders used her video statement to target the AAP after it failed to fulfil the promise.
She had accused administrative officers in Mohali of seeking bribes in her name in September 2024. She had levelled allegations against executive officers and tehsildars of Kharar of bringing disrespect to her.
According to the PTI report, Maan also faced flak from her political rivals for the poor conditions of roads and the sewerage system at several places in her assembly constituency.
She became a minister during the Bhagwant Mann government's first cabinet expansion in July 2022. She was among five MLAs who were given Cabinet berths.
She was the second woman to become a cabinet minister in the Mann government. Her responsibilities included important portfolios like tourism and culture affairs, investment promotion, labour and removal of grievances, as report by PTI.
However, the Bhagwant Mann government dropped four ministers, including Maan, from the Cabinet in September 2024.
When she was a minister in June 2024, Maan tied the knot with advocate Shahbaaz Singh Sohi. They got married at a gurdwara in Mohali's Zirakpur with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and several AAP leaders attended the ceremony.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Aam Aadmi Party protests poor road construction in Kolhapur
Aam Aadmi Party protests poor road construction in Kolhapur

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Aam Aadmi Party protests poor road construction in Kolhapur

Kolhapur: Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest on Saturday at the Shahu Khasbag Maidan bus stop to condemn the poor quality of road construction by a private contractor appointed by the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC). The project was funded with Rs 100.3 crore under the Maharashtra Rajya Suvarna Jayanti Nagarutthan Yojana scheme. AAP workers, holding a cutout of a premium SUV recently purchased by a city MLA, alleged that almost all roads in the city have deteriorated due to potholes, making them motorable only by premium SUVs. Sandip Desai, AAP's state secretary, said, "If the city MLA approved a fund of Rs 100 crore for road works, then it is also his job to ensure the quality of the works. He travels in luxury cars, so he does not understand the plight of two-wheeler riders, rickshaw pullers, and ordinary Kolhapur residents." Despite the substandard work, officials have paid the contractor a bill of Rs 22 crore. Desai added, "The officials, contractors, consultants, subcontractors, and public representatives are responsible for these poor roads. Even though the deadline passed, these works have not been completed yet." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing Older Women should Avoid Learn More Undo Meanwhile, Uttam Patil, AAP's city president, said, "The road is in poor condition due to not doing the gutter channel work before the road construction, not using the sensor machine, and the responsible officer not being available at the site for actual inspection at the time of works. The contractor and consultant appointed are responsible for using the right material, taking measurements of the road, getting the work done as per the design, and coordinating the necessary tests to maintain the quality. Nothing has been followed." AAP office-bearers present included Abhijit Kamble, Suraj Surve, Sameer Latif, Dushyant Mane, Usha Vader, Vijay Hegde, Rakesh Gaikwad, Sanjay Nalvade, Umesh Vader, Lakhan Kazi, Ranjit Patil, Swapnil Kale, Baban Bhalerao, Amarsinh Dalvi, Aditya Powar, Prakash Harne, Ramesh Koli, etc.

MoS Margherita says India, South Africa relations based on mutual trust
MoS Margherita says India, South Africa relations based on mutual trust

News18

time2 hours ago

  • News18

MoS Margherita says India, South Africa relations based on mutual trust

Last Updated: Johannesburg, Jul 26 (PTI) 'Relations between India and South Africa are based on shared history, mutual trust and goodwill," said Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita in South Africa on Saturday. 'India's engagement with Africa, including South Africa, is guided by the principles of Prime Minister Modi. Our engagement with Africa is not transitional; it is transformational," he said while addressing a gathering of Assamese expatriates and Indian-origin South Africans here. Margherita said that India regards its diaspora as one of its greatest assets while seeking their support 'to strengthen the India-South Africa relationships." He urged the diaspora to continue to launch new ventures, initiate joint projects, create more jobs and explore new markets together in India, South Africa and beyond. Margherita wrapped up his 10-day visit to three southern African countries–Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa–on Saturday and left for Dubai. Earlier this week, Margherita participated in the 4th meeting of the G20 Development Working Group, held in the iconic Kruger National Park, hosted by South Africa, which currently holds the G20 Presidency. PTI FH RD RD RD Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Congress seeks court-monitored CBI probe into organic cotton scam in MP
Congress seeks court-monitored CBI probe into organic cotton scam in MP

News18

time2 hours ago

  • News18

Congress seeks court-monitored CBI probe into organic cotton scam in MP

New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday demanded a court-monitored CBI probe into an alleged scam in the sale of normal cotton as organic cotton in Madhya Pradesh. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh alleged that India's image is being hurt globally as the country has lost credibility in the certification of organic products. Addressing a press conference here, Singh alleged that the scam is estimated to be of the tune of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in the name of selling normally produced cotton as organic cotton. There was no immediate comment available from the Madhya Pradesh government. Giving details, Singh said that in 2001, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), which is implemented by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). He said its objective is to certify and regulate the export of organic products. Under this framework, NPOP accredits certification bodies (CBs), which in turn verify internal control systems (ICS). The ICSs are groups of 25 to 500 farmers who grow organic cotton. As of 2025, there are approximately 6,046 ICSs and 35 CBs. Singh, however, alleged that most farmers who are shown as registered under ICSs are neither growing organic cotton nor are they aware of their presence in the system. 'In short, ICS groups have deliberately committed fraud by adding farmers' names to obtain transaction certificates," Singh alleged. With the result, he claimed, while the farmers struggle to get fair prices for their produce, some powerful traders are selling non-organic (Bt) cotton as 'organic', earning up to six times the profit. While these exporters are also committing massive tax and GST evasion, at the international level, he claimed that India is now being seen as a 'hub of fraud in the organic market", leading to cancellations of recognition by global agencies. He also claimed that raids on just two commercial entities uncovered Rs 750 crore in GST evasion, revealing a Rs 7,500 crore scam from just these two, as tax evasion accounted for only 5 per cent of the total fraud amount. Referring to the international fallout, the former chief minister claimed that in October 2020, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) caught 'fake transaction certificates" in India, banned 11 companies, and revoked the accreditation of a major certifier. In June 2021, the USDA (USA) ended India's automatic recognition for organic certification, Singh claimed, while revealing that in November 2021, the EU cancelled the recognition of five Indian certifiers due to restricted chemicals found in supposedly organic products. Singh said on August 27, 2024, he highlighted the organic cotton fraud in Madhya Pradesh through a letter to the prime minister. The Congress leader demanded the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) led by the CBI under the supervision of a sitting high court judge. Seeking transparent inspections by the certifying bodies, he also demanded fair compensation for the exploited farmers. PTI SKC ARI view comments First Published: July 27, 2025, 00:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store