Vibhav Kumar announced as chief advisor to CM Bhagwant Mann - Reports

An RTI activist has claimed that Vibhav Kumar, the former personal assistant to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been quietly appointed as the Chief Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The claim, made by RTI activist Manik Goyal, has triggered sharp political reactions in Punjab.

According to reports, several rooms at the Punjab Chief Minister’s official residence have been vacated to accommodate Vibhav Kumar, who is said to be working under Kejriwal’s direct supervision. Kumar was recently granted bail in the case of assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal at the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence.

Reacting to the development, Congress MLA from Bhulath, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, said that if reports of Vibhav Kumar’s appointment are true, it indicates that Arvind Kejriwal has effectively taken direct control of the Punjab government, calling the move “highly condemnable.”

The Punjab government has not yet issued an official confirmation or denial regarding the appointment. Opposition parties have demanded clarity, calling it a matter of administrative transparency and autonomy.