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3mo ago

Punjab Minister Led Non-Existent Department for 20 Months, Opposition Criticizes AAP Government

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal held the Administrative Reforms portfolio, which the Punjab government later admitted did not exist, prompting opposition backlash and government clarification.

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal will now only hold the portfolio of NRI Affairs in the state cabinet.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended the controversial circular as part of an administrative process.
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Overview

  • Punjab minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was assigned the Administrative Reforms department in May 2023, but it was later revealed to be non-existent for the 20 months he held the portfolio.
  • The Punjab government issued a notification on February 21, 2025, confirming that the department was defunct and Dhaliwal will now only oversee the NRI Affairs portfolio.
  • Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended the situation, stating that the department had no staff or office and has since been restructured to bring efficiency and reforms.
  • Opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal, criticized the AAP government, accusing it of administrative incompetence and remote-controlled governance.
  • Social media reactions highlighted public frustration, with many mocking the oversight as emblematic of broader governance failures under the AAP administration.