The announcement comes just a day after Purohit’s meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. The resignation follows the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) sweeping victory in the Chandigarh mayoral polls, securing all three posts, dealing a blow to the Congress-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alliance. Despite the BJP’s success, the opposition raised concerns about ballot paper tampering.

On Wednesday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court denied interim relief to the AAP, which had sought fresh polls under the supervision of a retired judge. In response, the Supreme Court agreed to consider an AAP councilor’s request for an urgent hearing challenging the high court order.

Banwarilal Purohit had previously clashed with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over various issues. The political landscape in Punjab remains tense, with ongoing legal battles and allegations of electoral malpractice adding to the uncertainty. Purohit’s resignation adds a new dimension to the evolving political scenario in the region.This discord traces back to last August when Governor Purohit warned Chief Minister Mann in a letter, stating that he might recommend President’s rule in the state and initiate criminal proceedings if his letters were not addressed. In his most recent communication to Mann, Purohit expressed frustration over the lack of responses to his previous letters and warned of reporting the “failure of constitutional mechanisms” to the President.

In response, Chief Minister Mann accused the Governor of threatening the peace-loving people of the state. Mann emphasized that law and order were under control, brushing aside the Governor’s concerns. The resignation of Governor Purohit adds another layer of complexity to the already strained relationship between the state government and the central authority.

This pivotal gathering offers a platform for discussions on a multitude of pressing issues affecting the northern zone of India. One of the prominent topics on the agenda is Punjab’s pursuit of its claim over Chandigarh as the capital. Additionally, water-sharing disputes with neighboring states and the affiliation of colleges to Panjab University will be addressed. Himachal Pradesh’s decision to levy water cess on hydro-power projects is also up for discussion.

The NZC will delve into matters concerning the Bhakra-Beas Management Board, reorganization of states, infrastructure development, regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme, and various other issues of common interest in the region.

The meeting began with a warm welcome from the host, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who received Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport. Other notable attendees include Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Sexena, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig BD Mishra.

Security measures have been tightened in Amritsar ahead of this high-profile event. A group of farmers associated with the Kirti Kisan Union had planned to protest the arrival of the Union Home Minister. They were, however, detained by the police near the airport. Carrying black flags and wearing black turbans, the farmers aimed to express their discontent with the Centre’s policies, particularly those impacting the agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, in the lead-up to the NZC meeting, Sukhbir Singh Badal, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), took to social media to call upon CM Bhagwant Mann to vigorously advocate for Punjab’s interests. He urged the CM to assert Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh, emphasizing that no land should be allocated for the construction of a separate Haryana Vidhan Sabha. Sukhbir Singh Badal also called for a firm stance on the SYL canal issue and the Riparian Principle, highlighting the critical water scarcity in Punjab. He further demanded that no Haryana colleges be affiliated with Panjab University and suggested a revision of guidelines for appointments to the Bhakra-Beas Management Board.

As the Northern Zonal Council meeting unfolds, it holds the promise of addressing these vital concerns and fostering regional cooperation among the northern states and Union Territories.