The Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has scrapped the Department of Administrative Reforms, a ministry that was allocated to Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal but was found to be non-existent for the past 20 months. The move is part of a broader administrative shake-up that also includes the transfer of 21 IPS officers. A gazette notification issued by the Punjab Chief Secretary confirmed that the department does not exist and officially reassigned Dhaliwal’s responsibilities, limiting his portfolio to NRI Affairs alone.
Sources suggest that the AAP government was caught off guard upon realizing that a minister was officially appointed to a department that had no functional existence. Despite this embarrassing oversight, Dhaliwal downplayed the controversy, stating that the government’s primary objective is to serve the people of Punjab and not to chase departmental titles. He reiterated that the AAP government is focused on reforms, efficiency, and the welfare of the public, rather than on unnecessary bureaucratic structures.
Chief Minister Mann pointed fingers at previous state governments, blaming them for the formation of the so-called Department of Administrative Reforms without ensuring its proper existence or functioning. He emphasized that his government has now implemented a structured system, with key portfolios being handled efficiently. Mann clarified that related responsibilities are being managed by Aman Arora, who heads multiple significant ministries, including Information and Public Relations, Housing and Urban Development, and Renewable Energy. Arora is also the Punjab AAP chief and has been one of the party’s key figures in state governance.
The opposition, particularly the BJP, did not miss the opportunity to attack AAP over the incident. Senior advisor to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Kanchan Gupta, took a jibe at the Punjab government, sarcastically calling it the "Kejriwal Model" of governance. In a tweet, he mocked the ruling party, highlighting that a minister was in charge of a non-existent department, and the government remained oblivious to this fact for nearly two years. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya was even more scathing in his criticism, calling Arvind Kejriwal "a charlatan who must be banished from public life."
Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia also weighed in, stating that this incident exposes AAP’s inefficiency and lack of administrative awareness. He remarked that the party, which once promised a revolutionary change in governance, has now become a symbol of chaos and mismanagement. He also targeted Punjab’s Finance Minister, alleging that while the government claims that the state’s financial health is improving, Punjab’s debt is only increasing.
State BJP leader Fatehjang Singh Bajwa echoed similar sentiments, warning voters in other states against trusting AAP. "If this is the kind of governance AAP provides, people should think twice before giving them power elsewhere," he said, branding the party as "clowns" who lack basic administrative competence.
The timing of this development is particularly noteworthy, as it comes amid speculation that AAP is shifting its power center from Delhi to Punjab. The party suffered a significant setback in the February 5 Delhi Assembly polls, where it faced a crushing defeat. Political analysts suggest that AAP is now attempting to consolidate its hold over Punjab, the only state where it is currently in power.
In addition to scrapping the department, the Punjab government has also undertaken a significant administrative overhaul, transferring 21 IPS officers with immediate effect. Many of these transfers include district police chiefs, which suggests a broader strategy to restructure law enforcement in the state. Meanwhile, sources within the Punjab Advocate General’s office have hinted that the government is also pushing for mass resignations among state lawyers, further indicating a major shake-up in governance structures.
The sudden restructuring within the Punjab administration comes just days ahead of a crucial two-day session of the Punjab Assembly, scheduled for February 24-25. Political observers believe that these swift changes may be an attempt by the Mann government to project an image of decisive governance amid growing criticism from the opposition.
