After a hiatus of a few months, the long-running conflict in Punjab between the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Governor Banwarilal Purohit has reignited. This follows President Droupadi Murmu’s refusal to clear a Punjab government Bill aimed at removing the Governor as the Chancellor of state-run universities.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan recently returned the Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, to the Raj Bhavan. The Bill, passed by the AAP government in June 2023, seeks to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of the universities.

Along with two other Bills—the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023—the Governor sent the Universities Bill to the President for consideration in December 2023. This action followed the Supreme Court’s November 10 ruling that “Governors cannot sit on state Bills.” The court’s decision came after the Mann government’s petitions contended that Governor Purohit had been withholding his approval of the Bills passed by the Assembly.

In response to the President’s decision to return the Bill, the AAP government is now exploring legal options. CM Mann criticized the Centre’s move, calling it undemocratic. He stated that a meeting would be held soon to decide on the future course of action.

“Why should those selected be allowed to choose a Vice-Chancellor of a university instead of the elected ones? This means the Governor did not want to give his assent to the Bill. This also means that whichever Bill the Governor does not want to approve, he would send to the President,” Mann said.

Governor Purohit’s relationship with the Mann government has always been strained. The confrontation began a few months after the AAP took power in March 2022, with Purohit’s visits to Punjab’s border areas and comments on issues like open drug sales and illegal sand mining, which upset the Mann government.

The conflict escalated when the Governor withdrew his permission for a special Assembly session on September 22, 2022, intended to bring a confidence motion. This was against the backdrop of the AAP’s allegations of a BJP plot to topple the Mann government. The standoff continued with the Governor demanding the agenda for a subsequent session. Mann called this demand “too much” and argued that the Governor’s clearance for an Assembly session was a “mere formality.”

Another flashpoint occurred in August 2023, when Governor Purohit threatened to recommend President’s rule and initiate criminal proceedings if his queries to the government were not answered. Mann rebuked Purohit, accusing him of a “hunger for power.”

Following the Assembly’s Budget session in March 2023, the AAP government began adjourning the House sine die to avoid needing the Governor’s approval for new sessions. However, in November 2023, CM Mann agreed to prorogue the session after the Supreme Court questioned the practice of adjourning instead of proroguing.

During the special June 2023 session, the House passed four Bills, but the Governor only approved one—the Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill, 2023. The other three Bills were sent to the President.

The Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced after the Governor struck down the appointment of Dr. Gurpreet Wander as the V-C of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), citing the need for a panel of names. The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aims to establish an independent mechanism for selecting the state police chief, while the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to end the Badal family’s control over the telecast of Gurbani.

In June 2023, Governor Purohit objected to CM Mann’s derogatory remarks, including calling him “vela (an idler),” and threatened legal action. The two also clashed over Purohit’s use of government helicopters for border visits.

The conflict intensified last year over sexual misconduct allegations against minister Lal Chand Kataruchak. Governor Purohit raised the issue, but the government claimed the complaint was withdrawn under pressure.

Following the President’s return of the universities Bill, the face-off is set to escalate as Governor Purohit plans to visit Punjab’s border districts from July 23-25. His visits have often highlighted issues like drug availability and deteriorating law and order, causing embarrassment for the Mann government.