The appointment of Aam Aadmi Party leader Shaleen Mitra, an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to former Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyender Jain, as an OSD to Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh has sparked a row in the state, with the Opposition Congress accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of “surrendering Punjab to the Delhi leadership”., while the ruling AAP leaders hitting back at the Congress, reminding them of their CM Amarinder Singh's "handing over the state" to strategist Prashant Kishor. Mitra's appointment as an OSD to the Punjab health minister came amid a row that many leaders from the AAP Delhi were saddled in important positions in Punjab, especially after the party's defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections. A photograph of Mitra sitting with Dr Balbir Singh in a meeting went viral on Wednesday. Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa took to X, “AAP govt appoints Delhi neta Satyendar Jain’s PA Shaleen Mitra as OSD to Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr Balbir Singh. Why is Punjab being remote-controlled from Delhi? Jobs for Punjabis or rewards for Delhi aides? @BhagwantMann surrendered Punjab to Delhi wallas.” AAP govt appoints Delhi neta Satyendar Jain’s PA Shaleen Mitra as OSD to Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr. Balbir Singh. Why is Punjab being remote-controlled from Delhi? Jobs for Punjabis or rewards for Delhi aides?@BhagwantMann surrendered Punjab to Delhi wallas.@INCIndia… pic.twitter.com/aQ3Z2nPka0 — Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) June 4, 2025 Congress leader Sukhpal Khaira posted the appointment letter of Mitra on X, saying, “This is how @ArvindKejriwal is remote controlling Punjab government! Below is the appointment of Shaleen Mitra as OSD to Health Minister @AAPbalbir! -@ArvindKejriwal has slow by slow captured all vital positions in Punjab and @BhagwantMann is just a “Dummy” Cm has been kept to tell jokes, dance around, cut ribbons, enjoy his security and cavalcade of cars !” This is how @ArvindKejriwal is remote controlling Punjab government ! Below is appointment of Shaleen Mitra as OSD to Health Minister @AAPbalbir ! -@ArvindKejriwal has slow by slow captured all vital positions in Punjab and @BhagwantMann is just a “Dummy” Cm has been kept to… pic.twitter.com/hwOD7LwZWe — Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) June 4, 2025 However, AAP leaders hit back at the Opposition, for the first time, on the issue of accommodating Delhi leaders in the Punjab government’s posts. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema posted on X, “Wasn't Prashant Kishor’s appointment as Chief Advisor to CM a blow to ‘Punjab’s Pride’? An outsider was handed reins with no accountability, no questions then. @Partap_Sbajwa is now crying foul over an OSD which is pure hypocrisy. AAP is here to deliver, not outsource governance.” AAP spokesperson Neel Garg, too, joined the chorus, “When @INCIndia made Prashant Kishor the de-facto CM of Punjab, not a single question was raised. No accountability. No protest. Silence from @Partap_Sbajwa. Arusa Alam a Pakistani agent had free access to the CM Office under Congress rule — no files moved without her ‘approval’. Bhupesh Baghel, Congress leader of Chhattisgarh is Punjab’s Congress Prabhari — a clear message that Punjab Congress is on remote control. This is not about governance. This is about Congress’ entitlement. #AAP is not Congress. We don't outsource Punjab, we empower Punjabis. We are building systems, not sycophancy.” Shiromani Akali Dal also jumped onto the bandwagon, hitting at AAP. The party wrote on its X handle, “Another shocking development. Jailed Delhi Aam Aadmi Party minister Satyendra Jain’s OSD Shaleen Mitra will now be OSD to the Punjab Health minister. This effectively means this ministry has also been taken over by the corrupt AAP leadership of Delhi. It seems the AAP leadership wants to expedite the loot of Punjab, knowing well that its countdown to being ousted from power has started. The Shiromani Akali Dal is committed to unmasking and punishing each & every corrupt deed once it assumes power in the State.”
