Is Kejriwal the ‘super CM’ in Punjab now?

As the former Delhi chief minister tightens his hold on Punjab, critics wonder whether it’s a move for survival or revival

Wherever Arvind Kejriwal goes, even CM Bhagwant Mann is relegated to the sidelines
Wherever Arvind Kejriwal goes, even CM Bhagwant Mann is relegated to the sidelines
user

Herjinder

Like every other state, Punjab is also seeing its share of back-to-back government events and party shows. On 7 July, for instance, a thanksgiving rally was organised to celebrate Aam Aadmi Party’s victory in the Ludhiana West by-election. That same day, a sewage treatment plant was inaugurated in Mohali. Punjab’s top rank in the National Achievement Survey 2024 was marked by a gathering of teachers. On 8 July, health cards were distributed under the government’s health insurance scheme. Later, the Punjabi edition of Jasmine Shah’s book Kejriwal Model was launched.

As per protocol, chief minister Bhagwant Mann was present at all these events. But it was clear that he was not the central figure. That role belonged to Arvind Kejriwal, former Delhi chief minister and AAP’s national convenor.

Over the past several months, Kejriwal has taken centre stage in nearly every major event in Punjab. Be it the inauguration of a development project or the launch of a government initiative like the campaign against addiction or the unveiling of new rules for land registry or the rollout of an industrial portal — he is the one grabbing the headlines.

Kejriwal’s political focus appears to have shifted almost entirely to Punjab. His visibility in Delhi has sharply declined, a fact reflected on the party’s official X and YouTube accounts, where Punjab-related content dominates. At several of these events, former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is also seen on stage.

When the AAP government assumed office in Punjab in 2022 and Mann took oath as CM, the buzz across the state was all about the ‘Delhi model’. Everywhere, officials were talking about free electricity, world-class schools and mohalla clinics.

It was said that the Mann government was fixated on replicating this model. Mann himself began frequenting Delhi, prompting opposition leaders to allege that Punjab was being governed by “remote control” from the national capital.

That “remote control” seems to have shifted physically to Punjab after AAP’s defeat in the Delhi assembly elections in February this year. It began with Kejriwal’s 10-day Vipassana retreat in Hoshiarpur, during which much of the state government machinery was reportedly deployed to accommodate him.

Since then, Kejriwal has been practically invisible in Delhi, attending more and more programmes in Punjab. AAP’s Delhi unit is effectively being run by Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj. When Atishi was arrested during a protest against a slum demolition drive in Kalkaji, Kejriwal limited his response to a social media post. There was no protest, no press conference. A marked shift indeed for someone who was once proactive on Delhi issues. Kejriwal now appears reactive, if not indifferent.

The turning point can be traced to 8 February, the day AAP suffered a defeat in Delhi. Three days later, all AAP MLAs in Punjab were summoned to a meeting at Kejriwal’s residence. The meeting was attended by all 91 MLAs, including CM Mann, signalling a marked shift of power centre.

Two significant announcements were made that day. Sisodia was appointed in-charge of Punjab with Satyendar Jain as co-in charge. Both, like Kejriwal, had lost the Delhi elections. They now reside in Chandigarh’s Sector 39A in government bungalows meant for Punjab cabinet ministers.

Sometime back, the Punjab government set up the Punjab Development Commission (PDC) modelled after the Niti Aayog. Mann chairs the commission, while Seema Bansal, originally from Haryana, is the vice-chairperson.


This move has sparked controversy, with senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa alleging that most of the top appointees to the PDC are outsiders, closely aligned with AAP’s Delhi leadership. He further accused the government of bypassing the legislative process and operating in a non-transparent manner.

BJP leader Sunil Jakhar went a step further and claimed that cabinet meetings were now being held at Mann’s residence — giving Kejriwal and Sisodia an opportunity to be present and, in effect, preside over the proceedings. Not surprising then that several opposition leaders refer to Kejriwal as the “de facto CM” or the “super CM”.

Delhi’s hand was also quite apparent during last month’s by-poll to the Ludhiana West Assembly seat. The entire campaign was reportedly taken over by AAP’s Delhi media team headed by Vijay Nair — an accused in the Delhi liquor policy scam. According to media reports, several members of AAP’s Punjab media team were sidelined through the campaign.

Following his victory in the bypoll, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora resigned from the Rajya Sabha, fuelling speculation of Kejriwal’s entry to the upper house of Parliament, though both he and the party have publicly denied this.

Irrespective of whether or not Kejriwal enters the Rajya Sabha, the moot question is: does he now see his political future rooted in Punjab? His activities and sustained presence in the state certainly suggest so.

With Delhi slipping from its grip, AAP’s political fate now hinges on the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab. Ironically, the very team that suffered a resounding defeat in Delhi is now steering the campaign in Punjab — where AAP hopes to script its next chapter of survival, or perhaps revival.

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google News, Instagram 

Join our official telegram channel (@nationalherald) and stay updated with the latest headlines