In a surprising move, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit tendered his resignation on Saturday, citing “personal reasons and certain other commitments.”
Formal Submission to President Droupadi Murmu
Banwarilal Purohit officially submitted his resignation from the position of Governor of Punjab and the Union territory of Chandigarh in a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu. The letter urged the President to accept the resignation, emphasizing his reasons for stepping down.
The impasse with the Aam Aadmi Party Government
The resignation comes amidst a deadlock between Governor Purohit and the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab. The dispute revolves around delays in approving pending bills, leading to a strained relationship between the two parties.
Supreme Court’s Intervention
The situation escalated when, on November 10, 2023, the Supreme Court criticized Purohit for delays in giving assent to five bills passed by the Punjab Assembly. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, expressed dissatisfaction with the deadlock and warned Purohit, stating, “You are playing with fire.”
On November 23, 2023, the Supreme Court reiterated that a Governor, as the titular head of the state, cannot keep bills pending indefinitely. The court clarified that constitutional powers should not be used to obstruct the enactment of legislative bills.
Political Meetings Amidst Resignation
In a noteworthy development, Banwarilal Purohit met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Chandigarh on Friday. This meeting followed the BJP’s landslide victory in the Chandigarh mayoral polls, retaining all three posts and causing a setback to the Congress-Aam Aadmi Party alliance, which alleged rigging of ballot papers by the presiding officer.