The issue was raised in the meeting of CM with three MPs-elect — Malvinder Singh Kang from Anandpur Sahib, Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal from Hoshiarpur and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur — on Thursday.

A few hours later, the CM held a review meeting with the department and asked the officials to ensure the supply. He also sought a report from the Deputy Commissioners of all districts on the issue. Sources said the CM has called a review meeting of all DCs on several issues on Monday with ration delivery also being on the agenda, besides flood preparedness, field visits by DCs and also redressal of grievances of public in DC offices and other field offices. The redressal of grievances was also one of the reasons put forward by MLAs of AAP, who have been virtually running a whispering campaign that the field officers did not listen to them, which was turning the voters away.

In a communique, the CM said that the government is duty-bound to ensure uninterrupted supply of ration to the beneficiaries under the Ghar Ghar ration scheme.

The CM said that due to their vested political interests, some rumor mongers had spread canards that a huge reduction has been made in ration by the state government. He said that this was baseless and unwarranted as all the beneficiaries are getting the facility under the scheme and full ration is being given to them. He has already sought a report pertaining to it from all the Deputy Commissioners across the state so that beneficiaries get the benefits of the scheme regularly.

He said that ration is being distributed to the beneficiaries through model fair price shops (MFPS) set up across the state. A total of 1.54 crore beneficiaries are getting the ration through 40.19 lakh ration cards and this will continue by all means.

Mann said that people had to face undue harassment while getting these grains most of the time while skipping their daily work or during the odd hours. He said that now with the distribution of ration in the vicinity of the beneficiaries, a new era has been ushered in as the beneficiaries will not be required to stand in long queues, especially in inclement weather conditions, adding that this will not only ensure delivery of nutritious foodgrains to people but will also go a long way in saving their time, money and energy.

‘Hindu vote bank shifted’

The CM held a meeting with the AAP Lok Sabha candidates and MLAs of Patiala and Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituencies, including Dr Balbir Singh, AAP’s Patiala candidate and Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar, candidate from Ferozepur.

Sources said the candidates had brought area-wise vote percentage to prove a point that Hindu votes had shifted to the BJP. “The leaders discussed that they could not retain the Hindu vote bank that got consolidated to BJP. They said that in several areas, especially the rural areas, the AAP’s votes remained with the party. But urban voters had shifted.”

A statement by the AAP said that both unsuccessful candidates thanked the MLAs of their areas and AAP teams for their support and hard work. As compared to the last general elections, the AAP gained vote share in both constituencies and trailed by a very small margin at the end.

Mann said to the MLAs of both Lok Sabha constituencies to keep up the good work and directed them to work even harder at the ground level. The AAP leaders discussed the Lok Sabha election results. Mann also discussed future development plans with the AAP MLAs, chairmen and party’s office-bearers.