Panjab Gets a New Governor

On 27 Jul, President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed six new Governors and reshuffled three others. Gulab Chand Kataria has been appointed the new Governor of Panjab, replacing Banwarilal Purohit. Kataria has also been appointed Administrator of the Chandigarh union territory. The relations between Panjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and Governor Purohit had remained frosty since Feb 2023, when the Governor visited the border areas and made a statement that drugs were available freely and had also reached schools. In the past year and half, CM and Governor confronted each other over pending Bills, Assembly session dates and other administrative issues (SDW Vol 1 Issue 6, Story 5). In August 2023, Purohit warned he would implement President’s Rule in Panjab. On 3 Feb, Purohit resigned, but the President did not accept the resignation (SDW Vol 2 Issue 6, Story 1). While CM Mann skipped Purohit’s farewell on 30 Jul, he welcomed Kataria – a senior BJP leader from Rajasthan with deep roots in the BJP’s mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He has been Member of Legislative Assembly eight times, served as minister multiple times, been Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly and last served as Governor of Assam. His name also figures in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case in which fearing witness intimidation, the Maharashtra High Court (MHC) ordered current Home Minister of India, Amit Shah to leave Gujarat. In that case, MHC found Kataria not guilty due to insufficient evidence. Kataria will take oath as the 30^th Governor of Panjab on 31 Jul. With BJP making forays into Panjab and the state govt. facing issues over funding from the central govt., the appointment of a hardcore Hindutva loyalist means CM Mann’s tight-rope walk has extended.