Growing footprint of Arvind Kejriwal in Punjab govt? As shake-up continues, speculation mounts

The rejig had been owed since the parliamentary polls but happened yet aft Kejriwal came retired of jail.

The speculation astir Kumar’s appointment started Monday, erstwhile Kejriwal met the Punjab Cabinet ministers one-on-one successful Delhi, reviewed their performance, and besides acceptable them targets for the adjacent year. According to authorities insiders, the AAP main told the ministers helium would show the work himself. That day, 2 much CMO officials, directors of connection Baltej Singh Pannu and Manpreet Kaur, were removed. On Wednesday, Anurag Verma was replaced by K A P Sinha was appointed Chief Secretary.

The speculation astir Kejriwal taking much involvement successful the party’s affairs successful Punjab has been increasing arsenic for weeks present determination person been steady changes successful the government. First came the Cabinet reshuffle connected September 23 erstwhile the Bhagwant Mann authorities — the CM’s 4th since taking the reins of the authorities successful 2022 —  removed 4 ministers and inducted 5 caller faces. All 4 removed were either nether the unreality of controversies oregon were facing anti-incumbency. But the astir astonishing was the removal of the Officer connected Special Duty (OSD) to the CM, Onkar Singh. He is Mann’s person and was handling his Assembly constituency of Dhuri. Earlier this month, Mann’s Director of Communications Navneet Wadhwa was asked to taxable his resignation, with AAP sources terming it “Operation Cleanup” aft AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s merchandise from prison.

Hitting retired astatine the AAP, Leader of the Opposition Partap Bajwa wrote connected X connected Wednesday, “As I’ve said before, @ArvindKejriwal takeover of Punjab’s governance is unfolding successful plain sight. With Punjab ministers being summoned to Delhi and CM @BhagwantMann sidelined, Kejriwal’s power is present absolute. With 2 much of Mann’s adjacent aides resigning, it’s evident that Punjab is nether siege by Delhi-centric control. But the radical of Punjab person ne'er accepted being dictated to by Delhi, and they won’t commencement now.”

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) person Bikram Singh Majithia besides targeted the ruling party, penning connected X connected Tuesday, “Who is Arvind Kejriwal to springiness directions to Ministers successful lack of Punjab CM? Does this mean @BhagwantMann has been wholly sidelined? Constitutional CM Punjab Bhagwant Mann was adjacent unaware that his ministers were successful Delhi to study to their brag and helium called a gathering of the Cabinet successful Jalandhar and had to alteration venue to Chandigarh and clip aft learning that the Ministers wouldn’t beryllium capable to scope Jalandhar wherever helium himself reached successful the evening yesterday. This is the archetypal clip past of immoderate authorities that the CM is waiting for his ministers. What a shameful authorities of affairs successful Punjab. Bhagwant Mann, who is stopping you from plain talking to your boss? You are answerable to Punjabis archetypal and your brag later.”

However, an adjutant of Mann who did not privation to beryllium named said, “This shake-up has taken spot aft Bhagwant Mann’s approval. I tin vouch that each determination was taken lone aft taking the CM’s nod. There is nary diktat from the top.”