The Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has appointed two Delhi-based leaders, Reena Gupta and Deepak Chauhan, to top posts in the state. Reena Gupta is now the Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), making her the first woman to hold this position. Deepak Chauhan has been appointed as the head of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board.
Both leaders are close to AAP’s central leadership in Delhi. Reena Gupta is a party spokesperson and environmental expert, while Deepak Chauhan previously worked with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak.
These appointments have sparked controversy in Punjab. Opposition leaders criticized the state government for giving important positions to “outsiders” who are not from Punjab. They accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of letting Delhi leaders take control of Punjab’s administration.
BJP Punjab President Sunil Jakhar said it looked like Delhi leaders were running Punjab and that the state ministers had no real power. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said Deepak Chauhan had no experience in industry and was chosen only because of his connections. Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal went further, accusing CM Mann of handing over Punjab to Delhi for political gain.
In response, CM Bhagwant Mann congratulated all the new appointees and encouraged them to work honestly and with dedication. He also said more volunteers would be given roles in the coming days.
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