Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed a positive outlook towards working with Gulab Chand Kataria, the newly appointed governor of Punjab. Mann made these remarks on Sunday, following the announcement of Kataria’s appointment, which replaced Banwarilal Purohit. The major gubernatorial changes were revealed on Saturday night.
President Droupadi Murmu accepted Purohit’s resignation from his positions as Governor of Punjab and the administrator of Chandigarh. Purohit had submitted his resignation in February. Responding to questions about the new appointment, Mann said he had spoken with Kataria, who informed him that he would take oath on July 31.
Mann emphasised his willingness to cooperate with Kataria, stating, "The president has appointed the new governor. We will welcome the new governor. We will work together." He made these comments during an event where he flagged off 58 new ambulances.
Despite his respect for Purohit, Mann expressed dissatisfaction with Purohit's frequent visits to the border districts, accusing him of trying to create an "atmosphere of conflict." Mann cited an instance during his recent two-day visit to Jalandhar, where the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police could not accompany him as they were with the governor on his border district visits. Mann questioned Purohit’s attempts to "run a parallel government," and clarified that he had no role in Purohit's resignation.
On Friday, Purohit, when asked about his resignation, suggested that the CM’s disapproval might have been a factor. Mann had previously criticised Purohit over his visits to border areas, urging him to avoid creating tension and instead focus on academic activities like inaugurating seminars at universities.
During his tenure, Purohit made several visits to the border districts, meeting with villagers, police officials, and central agency representatives. His visits included Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts on Tuesday and Amritsar on Wednesday, marking his seventh such visit as governor.
Purohit and Mann had previously clashed over several issues, including the summoning of Assembly sessions and the appointment of vice-chancellors for state-run universities. The ongoing disagreements highlighted the tension between the governor and the chief minister, culminating in Purohit’s eventual resignation.
In the midst of these political shifts, Mann remains focused on his commitment to public service and governance. The flagging off of new ambulances underscores his administration’s efforts to improve healthcare services in the state.
As Mann prepares to work with Kataria, the people of Punjab anticipate a cooperative relationship that will prioritize the state's development and stability. The new governor's approach and the collaboration between the state government and the governor's office will be crucial in addressing the challenges and opportunities ahead for Punjab.
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