CHANDIGARH: Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, claiming that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been reduced to a mere figurehead while AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal acts as the “super CM,” controlling key decisions and appointments in the state.
Bajwa accused the government of filling top positions in the Punjab Development Commission (PDC) with individuals from outside Punjab, many of whom are allegedly close to AAP’s Delhi leadership. He said the PDC was formed in September 2023 through a notification under the Punjab Infrastructure (Development and Regulation) Act, without bringing a new Act before the Assembly for debate and approval.
He criticised the government for bypassing legislative procedures and acting in a non-transparent manner. In March 2024, the PDC advertised and appointed eight Advisors at Rs 2.65 lakh per month, 15 Joint Advisors at Rs 2.20 lakh per month, and 15 Senior Research Officers at Rs 1.25 lakh per month.
Bajwa claimed that most of these officials were non-Punjabis and were hired on a contractual basis without adhering to the mandatory requirement of Punjabi language proficiency. He pointed out that while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is the Chairman of the PDC, the Vice Chairperson is a non-Punjabi, and three other members also belong to states outside Punjab.
“This is a direct insult to the youth and professionals of Punjab who are being ignored in their own state,” Bajwa said.
He further revealed that the AAP government has already spent Rs 7.70 crore from the state exchequer on the PDC in the past year alone. He also alleged that NGOs working with the Commission are based outside Punjab, raising serious concerns about the marginalisation of local talent and institutions.
Highlighting a deeper political issue, Bajwa alleged that the AAP has effectively allowed Kejriwal’s Delhi-based team to run a parallel government in Punjab. He reiterated that Bhagwant Mann has been reduced to a figurehead while Arvind Kejriwal pulls the strings from Delhi.
Bajwa demanded accountability from the state government and urged it to stop compromising Punjab’s autonomy and interests for the benefit of AAP’s national agenda.