Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit Resigns

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit resigned from his post, citing “personal reasons.” In his resignation letter, he wrote, “Due to my personal reasons and certain other commitments, I tender my resignation from the post of governor of Punjab and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh. Please accept the same and oblige.”

Political Fallout

Purohit’s resignation comes just a day after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. The timing of his resignation, following the BJP’s triumph in the Chandigarh mayoral polls where they secured all three posts, has raised eyebrows. This victory dealt a blow to the Congress-AAP alliance, and despite allegations of ballot paper tampering from the opposition, the BJP emerged successful.

Legal Battles

A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court denied interim relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had sought fresh polls under the supervision of a retired judge of the court. However, the Supreme Court agreed to consider an AAP councillor’s request seeking urgent hearing of his plea challenging the high court order, adding another layer of complexity to the political landscape.

Clashes with Punjab Chief Minister

Purohit had been at loggerheads with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over various issues in the past. His resignation adds a new dimension to the political dynamics in Punjab and Chandigarh.

Banwarilal Purohit: Political Background

Banwarilal Purohit, born on 16 April 1940, is an Indian politician who served as the 29th Governor of Punjab, India, and Administrator of Chandigarh until 3 February 2024. He previously served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 2017 to 2021 and the Governor of Assam from 2016 to 2017. Purohit is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has represented the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency three times, twice as an Indian National Congress member and once as a BJP member.