Deepak Chauhan and Reena Gupta to head Industrial Development Board and Pollution Control Board
CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government is facing strong backlash from opposition parties following the appointment of two Delhi-based AAP leaders to top posts in state boards. The controversy centers around the naming of Deepak Chauhan as Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board and Reena Gupta as Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).
While the Punjab government hails the appointments as merit-based and in line with administrative priorities, opposition parties accuse Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of handing over Punjab's key administrative positions to "outsiders" under pressure from AAP's central leadership in Delhi.
Deepak Chauhan, originally from Uttar Pradesh, has been closely associated with AAP’s Delhi leadership and previously served as a personal assistant to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak. Despite limited administrative experience, Chauhan now leads a major industrial development board that is pivotal to Punjab's economic growth strategy.
Reena Gupta, a seasoned AAP spokesperson and environmental expert, has served as an advisor to the Delhi government and worked with the Delhi State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). Her appointment as Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board makes her the first woman to hold this post since the Board’s inception in 1975. Gupta is known for her active participation in Delhi's environmental policymaking, but her lack of direct experience with Punjab's unique ecological and industrial challenges has drawn criticism.
The appointments have triggered a political storm, with leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress, and other opposition parties denouncing the move.
SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal said, "This is another example of how CM Bhagwant Mann has surrendered Punjab’s autonomy to AAP's Delhi high command. Giving crucial positions to political loyalists from outside the state is a betrayal of Punjab’s interests."
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa called the appointments “a dangerous trend of political favoritism that ignores merit and local representation, ” while MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said it insulted local AAP volunteers who had worked for the party’s success in Punjab. Khaira added, “It seems Punjab is now being run from Delhi. Our institutions should be led by those who understand our ground realities."
An AAP spokesperson defended Reena Gupta’s appointment, stating that her experience in Delhi's environmental policy and her technical background qualified her for the role. The spokesperson added that the appointments are part of broader administrative reforms aimed at improving governance and efficiency across Punjab.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has not directly addressed the controversy but publicly congratulated all newly appointed officials, urging them to serve the state with dedication.
The controversy comes amid a sweeping administrative reshuffle by the Mann government, which recently appointed 31 new chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and directors across various government departments and corporations. While routine in scope, the appointments of Delhi-based leaders to top roles in Punjab have raised alarm over perceived centralization of power within AAP and its implications for regional autonomy.
As AAP continues to evolve from a Delhi-centric political movement to a national force, the party faces the challenge of balancing organizational loyalty with regional representation and public accountability.
The appointments of Deepak Chauhan and Reena Gupta have ignited a broader conversation about merit, regional identity, and political patronage in Punjab’s governance. With opposition parties uniting in criticism, the AAP government will likely face increased scrutiny over future appointments and policy decisions. The controversy also raises crucial questions about how national parties manage state-level governance without alienating local stakeholders.