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Navjot Sidhu’s aide Gulzar Chahal appointed Vice-Chairperson of Punjab Planning Board

Former Punjab Cricket Association chief Gulzar Chahal will replace industrialist Rajinder Gupta, who had resigned from the planning board after the AAP nominated him to Rajya Sabha.

2 min readChandigarhDec 22, 2025 02:12 PM IST

Close to CM Bhagwant Mann, Chahal is also a trusted aide of Navjot Singh Sidhu, who appointed him Punjab Congress treasurer in 2021. (Express)

The Punjab Government has appointed former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) treasurer Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal as the Vice-Chairperson (Cabinet rank) of the state Economic Policy and Planning Board.

Considered to be close to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Chahal is also known for his proximity to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu. When the former cricketer was appointed the Punjab PCC chief in 2021, he had handpicked Chahal as the treasurer.

Chahal will replace industrialist Rajinder Gupta, who had resigned from the planning board after he was nominated to Rajya Sabha by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Gupta was nominated to the Upper House of Parliament after the berth was vacated by Sanjeev Arora, following his election as a legislator from Ludhiana. Arora is now a minister in Mann’s Cabinet.

In September 2021, Chahal resigned from the post of PCC treasurer in solidarity with Sidhu who had quit as its chief in protest against the appointment of the then Advocate General A P S Deol. Sidhu had argued that Deol was the counsel for Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim Singh who is currently serving a jail term for raping two of his disciples.

Chahal has also served as the president of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). He, however, had to step down from the post following a controversy after his father and retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Harinder Singh Chahal was accused of using a cricket ground unauthorisedly for a morning walk.

Chahal is also an actor, producer, and entrepreneur. As part of his new appointment, he will be entitled to an office, official bungalow, and a vehicle, besides emoluments and perks. The Terms of Reference of his appointment have not been issued yet. His predecessor Gupta did not draw a salary while holding the post.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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