General Category Commission’s Chairperson Not Appointed; Widespread Anger in General Category, AAP to Face Strong Opposition in 2027 Elections / Phuglana”

Hoshiarpur / Daljeet Ajnoha/May 23

A meeting of the Doaba General Category Front, Punjab was held under the leadership of president Balvir Singh Phuglana . On this occasion, Phuglana, along with patron Surjit Singh Masuta and general secretary Jagtar Singh Bhungarni, issued a joint statement claiming that the AAP‑led Punjab government is deliberately sidelining the general (un‑reserved) category while giving preference to other reserved categories. They called this a clear act of discrimination against the general category. 

They recalled that the previous (Congress) government had constituted the Punjab State Commission for General Category in December 2021 and appointed its chairperson and members. However, when those members contesting elections resigned, the AAP government completed nearly four years in power without appointing a new chairperson for the commission, even though chairpersons have been posted for commissions of other categories. 

On the same platform, they also expressed concern over the long‑pending dues of government employees and pensioners, the failure to check drug abuse in Punjab, and the rising number of unpleasant incidents in the state. They sharply criticised the “Maa–Beti Satkar Yojana” announced by the Punjab government, under which women from the general and backward categories are to receive ₹1,000 while women from other categories are to receive ₹1,500, accusing the government of creating caste‑based divisions for its own political gain. 

They further alleged that the Cabinet Sub‑Committee is deliberately not giving the General Category Front a proper time slot for meetings, while other category groups are being heard and their issues are being addressed. If the chairperson and staff of the Punjab General Category Commission are not appointed soon, they warned that the AAP will face strong opposition from the general category in the 2027 elections. 

The meeting was attended by Balwinder Singh Gill Bughana, Isher Singh Nurur, Jagtar Singh Bhungarni, Jaswant Singh Sangha, Ratan Singh Sayni, Jaswinder Singh Harakhwala, Karamjit Singh Atwal, Mangal Singh Jalwehra, Balwinder Singh Bhamb, Varinder Singh Bhinder, Jasbir Singh Parmar, Mukhjan Singh “Mona” Kala, Gurdeep Singh Jalvera, Satnam Singh Shiddhu, Gurmail Singh Bughana, Balvir Singh Tamba, and Mahinder Singh (ex‑sarpanch) Mukhilana, among others.