Aam Aadmi Party Punjab’s decisions that have been controversially made by saying that they were made from Delhi.
After the Aam Aadmi Party fought and won the 2022 elections with Bhagwant Mann in front, allegations of the Delhi High Command interfering in the internal affairs of the Aam Aadmi Party have been leveled by the opposition as well as the party’s Punjab-related workers.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab has faced criticism for decisions perceived to be dictated by its Delhi-based leadership, particularly Arvind Kejriwal, rather than being driven by local leadership or Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
During the government’s 3-year tenure, the question has often been raised that the Delhi High Command is directly interfering in Punjab. In the Delhi assembly elections, big faces apart from the AAP Chief Minister lost to BJP candidates. After which this question was openly asked by the people and party workers that Bhagwant Mann is the acting Chief Minister of Punjab.
Yesterday, the AAP released the list of star campaigners for the Ludhiana West elections. In which, after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Education Minister Manish Sisodia, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s name is. After which, in an attempt to stir up controversy, opposition parties and social workers are again asking questions, is Bhagwant Mann not the Chief Minister of Punjab?
Recently, during the laying of the foundation stone of a Dharamshala, Kejriwal’s name was written on the foundation stone before Bhagwant’s, which also caused controversy.
Below are key examples of controversial decisions attributed to Delhi’s influence, based on available information:
● Appointment of Non-Local Leaders to Key Positions: The appointment of Shaleen Mitra, a former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) linked to Delhi’s AAP leadership, as an advisor to Punjab’s Health Minister has sparked significant backlash. Critics, including opposition leaders, argue this reflects a pattern of Delhi imposing its loyalists on Punjab, sidelining local leaders and undermining Punjab-centric governance.
Other Delhi-based or non-local leaders, such as Bibhav Kumar (Kejriwal’s former PA), Raghav Chadha, Manish Sisodia, and Sandeep Pathak, have been accused of holding significant influence over Punjab’s governance. Kumar, for instance, is reportedly managing the Chief Minister’s office, while Chadha and Pathak have been involved in directing key campaigns and decisions.
These appointments have fueled perceptions that Punjab’s government is being “remote-controlled” from Delhi, with local AAP leaders and workers feeling marginalized.
● Cabinet Reshuffles and Leadership Changes: Following AAP’s defeat in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, there has been speculation about a Punjab cabinet reshuffle orchestrated by Delhi leadership. Four Punjab ministers—Tarunpreet Sondh, Ravjot Singh, Lalchand Kataruchak, and Kuldeep Dhaliwal—were summoned to Delhi, fueling rumors of portfolio changes or the appointment of a new Vidhan Sabha speaker, with Baljinder Kaur as a contender. This move was seen as an attempt by Kejriwal to consolidate control in Punjab amid electoral setbacks.
Manish Sisodia’s appointment as Punjab’s in-charge and Satender Jain as co-in-charge further reinforced claims of Delhi’s dominance over Punjab’s political strategy.
● Handling of Farmers’ Protests: The AAP government’s late-night crackdown on farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana borders (Shambhu and Kanori) in 2025, involving over 3,000 police personnel and bulldozers to detain nearly 500 protesters, was criticized as a decision influenced by Delhi. Opposition parties accused AAP of hypocrisy, claiming the action was directed to align with central government pressures rather than addressing local farmers’ concerns.
Critics argue that such heavy-handed measures reflect Delhi’s strategic priorities over Punjab’s agrarian interests, damaging AAP’s credibility among Punjab’s farming community.
● Centralized Decision-Making and Volunteer Marginalization: AAP has been criticized for its authoritarian structure, with key decisions, including candidate selections, allegedly made by Kejriwal and his Delhi-based team rather than grassroots volunteers in Punjab. Volunteers have expressed frustration, describing themselves as “cannon fodder” used for campaigning but ignored in decision-making.
The “Shukrana Yatra” and other victory celebrations post-byelections were seen as orchestrated by Delhi to project AAP’s strength, despite local leaders’ concerns about the party’s performance and internal dissent.
Perceived Remote Control of Punjab Government: Some Media reports have highlighted a recurring narrative that Punjab’s governance is dictated by Kejriwal from Delhi. For instance, a 2022 meeting in Delhi, where Kejriwal met Punjab officers without Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, was labeled by the opposition as evidence of “remote control” governance.
This perception was amplified after AAP’s 2025 Delhi election loss, with critics arguing that Kejriwal’s weakened position might further tighten his grip on Punjab to maintain political relevance, potentially alienating local leaders like Mann.
Critical Perspective: While AAP’s Delhi leadership defends these decisions as part of a unified party strategy, the recurring theme of centralized control has stirred resentment among Punjab’s local leadership and electorate.
The opposition, particularly Congress, has capitalized on this narrative, with leaders like Partap Singh Bajwa claiming that Punjab’s autonomy is being eroded. The lack of a robust local party structure in Punjab, as noted in reports, exacerbates this issue, with ad hoc decision-making reflecting Delhi’s priorities over Punjab’s needs.
However, AAP dismisses some of these claims as rumors, asserting that internal meetings are routine and not indicative of a reshuffle or external control.