Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ignited a new political controversy with his bold criticism of the BJP’s alleged use of sindoor in its campaign strategy. During a press conference on Tuesday, Mann mocked the ruling party and raised questions about its symbolic outreach.

Responding to a reporter who asked about BJP leaders seeking votes in the name of sindoor, Mann remarked, "This is very sad. Sindoor is being mocked. Didn't you see? Now they are saying that they will send sindoor to every house."

He went on to taunt the campaign, asking, "Will you apply sindoor in Modi’s name? Is this the One Nation, One Husband scheme?" before abruptly ending the media interaction.

The Chief Minister’s sarcastic comment referred to what some online voices have dubbed "Operation Sindoor," though the Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking unit has denied any such official scheme exists.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari hit back on X (formerly Twitter), calling Mann’s comment “shameful” and accused him of “disrespecting our armed forces and mocking a successful military operation.”

AAP MP Sanjay Singh had earlier echoed similar sentiments, saying in a video statement, "In Indian culture, sindoor is a symbol of respect and a woman’s pride... But after ‘One Nation, One Election’ and ‘One Nation, One Leader’, it seems the PM now wants ‘One Nation, One Husband’."

The Kerala Congress also jumped into the fray by sharing a poster of Prime Minister Modi with the tagline "One Nation, One Husband," intensifying the political satire.