Kejriwal team controls almost all department with about 32 appointments made in the government
By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: In a move that has sparked sharp political controversy, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has decided to strip the CM's office of key administrative powers by authorizing the Chief Secretary to head all urban development authorities in the state. The opposition has slammed the decision, alleging that it reflects the deepening influence of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Punjab’s governance.
Under the new arrangement, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha will now serve as the signing authority for major development bodies including the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), Greater Ludhiana Development Authority (GLADA), Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), and others constituted under the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act. Effectively, this sidelines both the Chief Minister and the Urban Development Minister from the day-to-day functioning and decisions of these key bodies.
Sources suggest that the cabinet’s decision was taken under pressure from the AAP's top leadership. Chief Secretary Sinha, widely perceived as being close to Arvind Kejriwal, is now in a commanding position on all major development matters. His appointment last year, replacing Anurag Verma, was reportedly influenced by Kejriwal. Similar concerns have been raised about Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, a batchmate of Kejriwal, with allegations that all high-level appointments in the police department are being vetted from Delhi.
Defending the decision, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema argued that delegating powers to the Chief Secretary will help accelerate project execution. “Sometimes, important development work gets delayed due to the Chief Minister’s busy schedule. Giving signing authority to the Chief Secretary will help streamline administrative functioning, ” he said.
Though this first time that an official decision was taken to strip Chief Minister of his powers, the CM office was already under seize of a team appointed by Arvind Kejriwal. Last year, the Onkar Singh personal Secretary of Chief Minister, all his OSDs, Media advisor were removed and Delhi men had controlled the CMO.
A team of about 32 outsiders was installed in the Punjab government to take full control of the government. It is learnt that Bhibav Kumar former Personal Secretary to Arvind Kejriwal is directly interacting with officials in the CMO.
CM Bhagwant Mann to make a choice
This brazen centralization has fueled growing resentment in Punjab. The people, who voted AAP to power with hopes of eradicating drugs, corruption, and mafia networks, now feel betrayed. The much-hyped ‘badlav’ (change) is being ridiculed as a façade. Advertising campaigns may project success, but on the ground, disillusionment is deepening.
As Arvind Kejriwal continues to consolidate control from Delhi, the time has come for Bhagwant Mann to make a choice to restore Punjab’s dignity — or risk becoming the scapegoat for decisions made elsewhere.
To tighten the grip of Delhi AAP leadrs, Manish Sisodia, former Delhi Deputy CM was made Punjab AAP’s in-charge. He has also taken command of the education department. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains acts more as Sisodia’s spokesperson than an autonomous minister. Bains, a known Kejriwal loyalist, is also seen as aspiring to replace Mann someday.
The information and public relations department, too, was, till last week was run by Kejriwal aide Adil Azmi, a former insurance executive from Uttar Pradesh. He was appointed as Special OSD (Media) to the CM. Azmi who resigned a few days back had imported his own media monitoring team from Delhi, creating an ecosystem that sidelines Punjab’s own journalists and bureaucrats. Never before has the state’s media fraternity faced such blatant alienation.
The health department is also in the hands of Delhi loyalists. Satyender Jain, another former Delhi minister, calls the shots with the help of Anurag Kundu — a management graduate and former child rights commissioner in Delhi. Kundu, now part of the Punjab Development Commission, oversees both health and education in the state. He chairs civil surgeon meetings, sets agendas, and demands reports, all without holding any constitutional post in Punjab.
Adding to the centralized grip is Shaleen Mitra, Jain’s former OSD, who now coordinates the state's health activities. Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, though visible on hospital visits, appears clueless about core issues — including the recent scandal involving contaminated IV fluids that led to patient complications.
Mitra is also said to be managing Punjab’s controversial ‘Yudh Nasha Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign. The much-publicized ‘Nasha Virodhi March’ turned out to be a flop, reflecting the disconnect between strategy and ground reality.
The Punjab Development Commission, launched in September 2023 as a think tank to guide governance, has become another symbol of Delhi’s takeover. Apart from CM Mann, no AAP leader from Punjab finds space in this body. Vice-chairperson Seema Bansal, along with Shoikat Roy, Anurag Kundu, and Vaibhav Maheshwari — all outsiders — steer the panel’s decisions.
Several Delhi figures now head crucial state institutions:
Reena Gupta, AAP national spokesperson, replaced environmental scientist Adarsh Pal Vig as Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
Deepak Chouhan, aide to AAP national organisation secretary Dr. Sandeep Pathak, was appointed Chairperson of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board.
Kamal Bansal, formerly with Delhi’s pilgrimage board, now chairs Punjab’s Tirth Yatra Samiti.
This brazen centralization has fueled growing resentment in Punjab. The people, who voted AAP to power with hopes of eradicating drugs, corruption, and mafia networks, now feel betrayed. The much-hyped ‘badlav’ (change) is being ridiculed as a façade. Advertising campaigns may project success, but on the ground, disillusionment is deepening.
As Arvind Kejriwal continues to consolidate control from Delhi, the time has come for Bhagwant Mann to make a choice to restore Punjab’s dignity — or risk becoming the scapegoat for decisions made elsewhere.