The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) government in Punjab, which came to power in March 2022 under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has completed over two years in office. This period provides a sufficient timeline to evaluate the administration’s performance against its electoral promises and governance challenges. This assessment examines the ground realities across various sectors, highlighting both achievements and notable shortcomings based on available information up to October 2024.
The AAP government initiated its tenure with promises of transformative governance modeled after its Delhi experience. However, administrative inexperience has been evident in the functioning of many departments. The government has struggled with bureaucratic management, with frequent transfers of officials creating instability in administrative continuity. The promise of ending the “transfer industry” – the practice of transferring officials for monetary considerations – has seen limited success, with allegations of political considerations still influencing administrative appointments.
The anti-corruption agenda, central to AAP’s electoral platform, has yielded mixed results. While anti-corruption helplines and digital governance initiatives have been implemented, they have not translated into the systemic reforms needed to address entrenched corruption networks within the state machinery. The government’s vigilance actions have often appeared selective, targeting political opponents while overlooking allegations against those aligned with the ruling party.
Punjab’s financial situation has worsened significantly under the AAP government. The state’s debt burden has increased at an alarming rate, crossing the ₹3 lakh crore mark. This financial deterioration can be attributed to a combination of populist spending without corresponding revenue generation measures. The government’s inability to expand the tax base or improve collection efficiency has exacerbated the fiscal crisis.
The implementation of welfare schemes like free electricity (up to 300 units) has placed an unsustainable burden on the state exchequer. While benefiting some segments of the population in the short term, these subsidies have diverted resources from critical infrastructure and development projects. The government has failed to present a coherent economic vision or fiscal roadmap to address the mounting debt crisis.
Industrial growth has stagnated despite multiple investor summits and policy announcements. The state has witnessed limited new industrial investments, with existing businesses expressing concerns about deteriorating infrastructure, power issues, and bureaucratic hurdles. Several proposed investment projects announced with much fanfare have remained on paper, failing to translate into actual establishment of industrial units or employment generation.
Agriculture, Punjab’s economic backbone, continues to face severe challenges under the AAP government. The promised comprehensive agricultural reforms have not materialized beyond incremental measures. Crop diversification efforts have been largely unsuccessful, with the area under paddy cultivation showing minimal reduction despite environmental concerns about groundwater depletion.
The government’s handling of the paddy procurement process has faced criticism, with farmers experiencing delays in payments and inadequate infrastructure at procurement centers. The promised bonus over MSP for farmers adopting sustainable practices has been implemented inconsistently, with budget constraints limiting its reach and impact.
The critical issue of farmer indebtedness remains unaddressed. The government’s loan waiver scheme has been limited in scope, covering only a fraction of the indebted farmers and providing insufficient relief. Small and marginal farmers continue to struggle with mounting debts and rising input costs, with limited government support for transitioning to more sustainable and profitable agricultural practices.
Despite education being touted as a flagship sector, the AAP government’s performance has fallen short of its ambitious promises. The much-publicized “Schools of Eminence” program has been limited to a small number of urban schools, creating islands of excellence while the majority of government schools, particularly in rural areas, continue to suffer from basic infrastructure deficiencies and acute teacher shortages.
The government has failed to address the contractual nature of teaching appointments, with thousands of teachers working on temporary contracts with inadequate compensation and job security. Teacher unions have repeatedly protested against unfulfilled promises regarding regularization and salary improvements. Student enrollment in government schools continues to decline in many districts, indicating a lack of public confidence in the state education system.
Higher education has faced severe neglect, with state universities experiencing funding crises and administrative chaos. Several colleges and universities have struggled to pay faculty salaries on time, affecting academic quality and research output. The promised digital revolution in education has been hampered by poor connectivity and insufficient technology infrastructure in educational institutions across the state.
The healthcare system in Punjab continues to face significant challenges despite the AAP government’s promises of transformation. While mohalla clinics have been established in some areas, their distribution has been uneven, with rural areas receiving less coverage. Many of these clinics suffer from staff shortages, medicine unavailability, and limited diagnostic capabilities, reducing their effectiveness as primary healthcare centers.
Government hospitals across the state continue to struggle with infrastructure deficiencies, equipment shortages, and inadequate staffing. The promised upgradation of district hospitals has progressed at a snail’s pace, with budget constraints cited as the primary reason. The healthcare insurance scheme has faced implementation hurdles, with limited coverage and cumbersome claim processes making it ineffective for many beneficiaries.
The state’s response to public health challenges has been reactive rather than proactive, with disease surveillance and preventive healthcare measures receiving inadequate attention and resources. The drug addiction problem, which the AAP government vowed to eliminate within months of taking office, remains widespread, with treatment and rehabilitation facilities grossly insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.
The law and order situation in Punjab has witnessed alarming deterioration under the AAP government. Gang violence, targeted killings, and extortion activities have seen a resurgence, particularly in border districts. The government’s promise of making Punjab “crime-free” has been contradicted by rising crime statistics and high-profile security breaches.
The drug trafficking problem, which the AAP had vowed to eliminate within weeks of taking power, continues unabated. While some low-level drug peddlers have been arrested, the government has failed to dismantle the major trafficking networks or address the political-criminal nexus that supports them. Substance abuse continues to devastate communities across the state, with inadequate rehabilitation facilities to address addiction issues.
Political interference in police functioning has undermined professional law enforcement. The promised police reforms, including establishment of an independent police complaints authority and community policing initiatives, remain largely unimplemented. Instead, the force has been used as a political tool in several instances, with selective enforcement of laws against political opponents.
Infrastructure development, crucial for economic growth, has faced significant delays and budget constraints. Many announced projects, including road expansions, industrial corridors, and urban development initiatives, have progressed at a glacial pace. Rural infrastructure, particularly village roads, drainage systems, and community facilities, has received inadequate attention despite being critical for agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
Urban infrastructure in major cities has deteriorated, with waste management, sewage treatment, and public transportation systems failing to keep pace with growing populations. The promised “smart city” initiatives have remained largely on paper, with minimal implementation on the ground. Infrastructure maintenance has been neglected in favor of announcing new projects, leading to rapid deterioration of existing facilities.
Environmental challenges have received insufficient attention from the AAP government despite their critical importance for Punjab’s sustainability. The groundwater crisis has worsened, with water tables continuing to decline at alarming rates. The government’s water conservation policies have been inadequate to address the scale of the problem, with limited implementation of rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge initiatives.
River pollution has increased, with industrial effluents and untreated sewage continuing to contaminate water bodies. The promised cleanup of the Sutlej, Beas, and other rivers has seen minimal progress beyond symbolic initiatives. Air pollution, exacerbated by stubble burning, remains a severe seasonal problem, with the government’s alternatives and incentives failing to significantly reduce the practice.
The AAP government in Punjab presents a case study of the challenges of translating electoral promises into effective governance. While some incremental improvements have been made in select areas, the administration has largely failed to deliver the transformative change it promised. Administrative inexperience, financial constraints, and the complex socio-economic challenges of Punjab have exposed significant gaps between the government’s ambitious vision and implementation capacity.
The mounting debt crisis, deteriorating law and order situation, and stagnant progress in critical sectors like agriculture, education, and healthcare indicate systemic governance failures that require urgent attention. As the government continues its term, addressing these fundamental issues will be essential to improve the living conditions of Punjab’s citizens and place the state on a sustainable development path. The ground reality reflects a government struggling to translate its Delhi governance model to the significantly different context of Punjab, with its rural economy, border state security challenges, and deeply entrenched structural problems.