A wave of disappointment is sweeping across Punjab as the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government continues to appoint outsiders—mostly recommended by the party’s Delhi leadership—to key political, advisory, and administrative posts in the state. The move has drawn sharp criticism from various sections of society, particularly Punjabi youth, who feel betrayed by a government that came to power promising ‘Badlav’ (change) and local empowerment.
Beyond policy advisors and high-profile Rajya Sabha nominations like Raghav Chadha, the discontent is deepening due to appointments at various other influential levels—including Chairmen of Boards, Corporation heads, and OSDs (Officers on Special Duty) to ministers—many of which could have been ideal roles for young, educated, and grassroots-connected Punjabi youth. Instead, several of these posts are reportedly being filled by individuals either directly associated with AAP’s Delhi circle or those who have no social or cultural grounding in Punjab’s reality.
Punjab’s youth, already facing an acute unemployment crisis, brain drain, and lack of opportunities in public service, see these appointments as a clear denial of the mandate for local participation. “What was the point of electing a Punjab-based party if the real power and influence is being decided in Delhi?” asked Gurmeet Singh, a political science graduate from Patiala who has been campaigning for youth representation. “We have thousands of qualified and capable young minds who can serve as OSDs or lead development boards, but they’re being ignored in favor of outsiders who don’t even know the issues of our villages and towns.”
In defense of these appointments, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has tried to draw parallels between these selections and the presence of Punjabis as MPs and ministers in countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia. “Our people are also serving as leaders in other nations,” he remarked recently. However, this justification has been widely criticized as weak and irrelevant. Political analysts, youth leaders, and even some within AAP’s own Punjab cadre argue that being elected by a foreign electorate based on merit and democratic process is entirely different from being appointed to sensitive state positions on the recommendation of a party high command.
Critics argue that such actions are not just undermining Punjab’s self-governance but also signaling a worrying trend of centralization and remote control. These practices starkly contradict the AAP government’s stated commitment to transparency, decentralization, and grassroots involvement. “AAP had promised that Punjab would be governed by Punjabis, for Punjabis. But what we are witnessing is a copy-paste model being imported from Delhi, with little regard for our own talent pool,” said Balwinder Kaur, a Ludhiana-based education activist.
Moreover, these appointments are taking place at a time when Punjab is experiencing one of its worst youth exodus phases, with lakhs of students seeking study permits and permanent residency abroad due to lack of hope within the state. The sidelining of local youth in political and administrative structures only adds to this despair, sending a message that there is little room for growth for those who choose to stay and serve Punjab.
In conclusion, the AAP government in Punjab needs to reevaluate its approach to appointments and prioritize local empowerment if it hopes to retain the trust of the very people who voted for it. Symbolic gestures and hollow justifications cannot substitute genuine efforts to uplift and include Punjab’s youth in governance. The future of Punjab must be shaped by those who understand it, live it, and are rooted in its soil—not by those parachuted in for political convenience.