Banwarilal Purohit Resigns as Punjab Governor, Citing Personal Reasons
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, citing personal reasons. Purohit’s decision comes after his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, which was captured in a photograph shared by Shah’s office.
The resignation follows the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the mayoral elections in Chandigarh on January 30. The victory prompted allegations of rigging from the INDIA bloc, comprising the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, leading them to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Purohit took office in September 2021 and served as both the Punjab Governor and Chandigarh UT Administrator. During his tenure of less than three years, he frequently clashed with the AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann on various issues. The relationship between Purohit and Mann deteriorated after the Chief Minister accused the Governor of ridiculing the office of the Governor, resulting in verbal exchanges between the two.
Purohit also expressed dissatisfaction with Mann’s refusal to remove a tainted minister. Furthermore, the Governor’s visits to border villages and objections to certain assembly sessions contributed to the growing friction.
The government also criticized Purohit for not approving five bills passed by the assembly last year.
In response to Purohit’s resignation, AAP Chief Spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang stated, For quite some time, the BJP leadership had been making the Governor carry out unconstitutional tasks for political motives… Ultimately, the Governor has listened to the voice of his conscience.
Before serving in Punjab, Purohit held the position of Tamil Nadu Governor from 2017 to 2021 and Assam Governor from 2016 to 2017. He has also served as a three-time Member of Parliament representing Nagpur, twice on a Congress ticket and once as a BJP member.
The resignation of Banwarilal Purohit as Punjab Governor marks a significant development in the state’s political landscape. Purohit’s tenure was marked by frequent clashes with the AAP government, leading to strained relations and disputes over several crucial issues. As the political scenario unfolds, the search for a new Governor to fill this vacancy is expected to begin soon.
