Punjab witnessed a political twist as the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday rolled out a red carpet welcome for the state’s newly-appointed Governor, Gulab Chand Kataria, a day after Banwarilal Purohit’s resignation was accepted by the President Droupdi Murmu. The surprise change came on the heels of a prolonged conflict between Mann and Purohit, with AAP leader expressing a strong desire to foster a harmonious relationship with the new governor for the welfare of the state — putting behind the tensions that marked his relationship with his predecessor.
Kataria, a BJP veteran leader currently holding thee charge of Assam Governor, is set to take oath as Punjab’s gubernatorial head on July 31.
Revealing his proactive approach while addressing the media after flagging off 58 new high-tech ambulances from outside his official residence on Sunday morning, Mann informed that he had already reached out to Kataria to welcome him to Punjab, ensuring a smooth transition of power.
“I called him in the morning and told him that we are Punjabis and hospitable by nature…There are so many issues in which the Governor and the Government have to work together like appointing the vice-chancellors of universities, the Governor and government have to be on the same page. If we work on crossroads, then it seems that parallel government is being run,” said Mann, highlighting the significance of working in tandem.
Mann was keen to clarify that his differences with Purohit were not personal but rather a matter of conflicting interests. Giving instances of operational hurdles he encountered, Mann said that during my recent visit to Jalandhar, the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police were unavailable to accompany him due to their commitments with Purohit's border district tours. “We sought an exemption for them from the Governor, but he insisted that he will need them. How could he run parallel meetings? Before that he had refused to allow the budget session. We went to the Supreme Court, even then he decided not to acknowledge our session. The President has now changed him,” Mann recounted, highlighting the friction that marked their interactions.
Mann’s response to Purohit’s claim that the Chief Minister’s displeasure might have influenced his decision to resign was firm. He emphasized the respect he had always shown Purohit, whom he always met with folded hands and touched his feet, stating, “How can I force a Governor to resign? I have accorded him all respect. But when there is a conflict of interest, then what can I do?”
Purohit’s tenure was marred by controversies, notably his frequent visits to border districts, which Mann criticized for fostering an “atmosphere of conflict”. These visits, which included meetings with villagers and officials from the police and central agencies, were seen by Mann as overstepping the Governor’s traditional boundaries. He argued that such actions disrupted the state's administrative harmony, stating, “How could he run a parallel government?”
Kataria, the new Governor, comes with an impressive resume. Having served as the Home Minister in the Rajasthan Government and as the Governor of Assam since February 2023, this will be his second gubernatorial role. His experience is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to the state’s governance.
Mann expressed optimism about working with Kataria, particularly on critical decisions such as appointing vice-chancellors for state-run universities. “Crucial decisions necessitate a harmonious relationship between the Governor and the State Government. I am confident that we can work together effectively for the betterment of Punjab,” he stated.
This transition also marks an end to the legal battles that had characterized Mann’s relationship with Purohit, including disputes over the budget session which had to be resolved by the Supreme Court. Mann’s detailed recounting of these conflicts underscored his frustration with what he perceived as Purohit’s attempts to undermine the state government’s authority.
Punjab Ratan
Punjab Government may soon honour the people performing the selfless service by conferring them with ‘Punjab Ratna’ award, on the lines of country’s highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna. Sharing his plans, the Chief Minister said that we are planning to reward such people with Punjab Ratna and may introduce the same from this Independence Day.
Wife Not Contesting Bypolls
Putting to rest rumours about his wife Dr Gurpreet Kaur entering the political fray in the upcoming Assembly bypolls, Mann clarified, “There are no plans to launch her politically.” Mann explained that Dr Gurpreet’s involvement in the campaign was akin to that of any dedicated party volunteer. “She campaigned, as did all volunteers of our party. Just because someone is campaigning does not mean they are being groomed for a political role,” he remarked.
Drawing a parallel, Mann highlighted the involvement of Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in political campaigns. “Sunita Kejriwal campaigns too. She is currently active in Haryana. But that doesn't imply she will be contesting elections,” he added.
Mann emphasized that Dr Gurpreet’s campaign activities were more about family support than a political debut. “She campaigned as part of the family effort. We even left our three-month-old daughter with her grandmothers to focus on the campaign,” he shared.
ISBT, Bus Stands for All Cities
Mann also announced his plans to establish Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBT) and local bus stands in all cities across the State, beginning with Amritsar. The local bus stands will facilitate travel within a 30-40 km radius of each city and will be connected to ISBTs via a free shuttle bus service.
Track Ambulance in Real Time: CM
Chandigarh: Chief Minister Mann, flanked by Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, dedicated the fleet of 58 hi-tech ambulances to the people of the state thereby ensuring that they are available to people in hour of distress. With this addition in the fleet of ambulances a total number of 325 ambulances have been pressed into the service of people across the state to ensure that they get health services in time. These ultra modern ambulances have been mandated to reach to the needy patients within 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural areas.
“These ambulances will work in tandem with Sadak Surkhya Force and ensure that precious lives of people are saved in case of emergency by providing healthcare facilities to them at time. The 58 hi-tech ambulances have been purchased at a cost of Rs 14 crore and are equipped with life saving drugs and ultra modern equipments,” he said.
Cabinet berth for Bhagat?
When questioned about the possibility of a Cabinet berth for newly-elected Jalandhar West MLA Mohinder Bhagat, Mann responded, “We will do it and we will call you in this conference hall and tell you.”