- December 6, 2023
Power Struggle in Punjab: The AAP Government Versus Governor Purohit

The relationship between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and Governor Banwarilal Purohit has been strained since the AAP took power in March 2022. There have been several disagreements between the two sides, including over the passage of certain bills, the appointment of government officials, and the functioning of the state police force.
One of the most contentious issues has been the Governor’s refusal to give his assent to several bills passed by the state legislature. In June 2023, the Governor withheld his assent to four bills, including the Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Sikh Gurudwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The AAP government has accused the Governor of acting at the behest of the central government, which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Governor has also criticized the AAP government for its handling of the law and order situation in the state. In August 2023, the Governor accused the AAP government of “misgovernance” and said that the state was in a “sorry state” of affairs. The AAP government has dismissed these allegations as “baseless” and has accused the Governor of trying to interfere in the state’s affairs.
The strained relationship between the AAP government and the Governor is likely to continue for some time. The AAP government has said that it will not tolerate any interference from the Governor, while the Governor has said that he will continue to uphold the Constitution and the law. The situation could lead to further political instability in Punjab.
Here is a table summarizing the key issues in the relationship between the AAP government and the Governor:
Issue | AAP government’s position | Governor’s position |
---|---|---|
Passage of bills | The Governor should give his assent to all bills passed by the state legislature. | The Governor has the right to withhold his assent to bills if he believes they are unconstitutional. |
Appointment of government officials | The AAP government should have the right to appoint its own officials. | The Governor has the right to oversee the appointment of government officials. |
Functioning of the state police force | The AAP government should have control over the state police force. | The Governor has the right to oversee the functioning of the state police force. |
It is unclear how the relationship between the AAP government and the Governor will develop in the future. However, it is clear that the strained relationship between the two sides is a major challenge for the AAP government.