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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....
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
May 15, 2026 13:47 IST
Punjab’s political parties have long fielded singers, actors, and comedians, but only a few...
Fri, May 15, 2026May 13, 2026 13:05 IST
A similar shake-up in the PR department followed singer Sidhu Moosewala's killing in 2022 amid...
Wed, May 13, 2026May 13, 2026 12:33 IST
From CBI raids at the Vigilance headquarters to open threats of "compulsory retirement" by...
Wed, May 13, 2026May 12, 2026 10:09 IST
The reshuffle assumes significance coming barely days before elections to 105 urban local bodies,...
Tue, May 12, 2026May 11, 2026 17:07 IST
The model code of conduct has come into force in Punjab, restricting the state government from...
Mon, May 11, 2026May 10, 2026 15:14 IST
From the ED's strategic "mapping" of Chandigarh’s Sector 2 to the contrasting party support for...
Sun, May 10, 2026May 10, 2026 12:42 IST
Since the AAP had insisted Arvind Kejriwal remain the Delhi CM despite his arrest, all eyes are now...
Sun, May 10, 2026May 09, 2026 11:04 IST
In its appeal to Diljit Dosanjh, the think tank identified four crises consuming Punjab, including...
Sat, May 09, 2026May 09, 2026 10:21 IST
The ED searches on premises linked to minister Sanjeev Arora were conducted as part of a...
Sun, May 10, 2026May 08, 2026 00:23 IST
“I have learnt...that my name has been dragged into today’s ED raids. My entire life has been,...
Fri, May 08, 2026May 07, 2026 10:54 IST
The latest ED action comes amid a series of raids involving leaders and persons linked to the...
Thu, May 07, 2026May 07, 2026 04:50 IST
Punjab was jolted by two blasts on Tuesday night: one outside the Border Security Force’s Punjab...
Thu, May 07, 2026May 06, 2026 14:38 IST
The Farm Stay Policy, 2026, allows farmers with as little as an acre of land to set up farm stays....
Thu, May 07, 2026May 06, 2026 13:27 IST
The BJP and the Congress target the AAP government over the alleged breakdown of law and order in...
Thu, May 07, 2026May 06, 2026 10:45 IST
The Shukrana Yatra will begin from Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and end at Shri Fatehgarh Sahib on May...
Wed, May 06, 2026May 06, 2026 04:16 IST
The AAP suffered a major jolt on April 24, when seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha members quit and merged...
Wed, May 06, 2026May 05, 2026 21:45 IST
Mann's statement sparked a buzz as the AAP has 94 MLAs in the 117-member Punjab Vidhan Sabha with...
Tue, May 05, 2026May 05, 2026 15:03 IST
While Bhagwant Mann demanded a constitutional amendment, the rebel group led by Raghav Chadha...
Tue, May 05, 2026May 05, 2026 09:38 IST
Meanwhile, Raghav Chadha and at least two other MPs who defected to the BJP are also scheduled to...
Tue, May 05, 2026May 03, 2026 16:43 IST
The Punjab Assembly has become a stage for dramatic entries and strategic exits. Here are the...
Mon, May 04, 2026May 03, 2026 06:45 IST
Friday disruption in Punjab House following a heated exchange between Bhagwant Mann and Congress...
Sun, May 03, 2026May 02, 2026 09:09 IST
Of its 94 legislators, 87 attend session, four gave it a miss while two are in...
Sat, May 02, 2026May 01, 2026 17:23 IST
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann alleged that the Congress was peddling rumours that AAP was on...
Fri, May 01, 2026Apr 30, 2026 04:26 IST
CM says his meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan has been scheduled for May...
Thu, Apr 30, 2026Apr 29, 2026 14:40 IST
This marks the fourth instance in eight months when the AAP government had to retract or scrap a...
Wed, Apr 29, 2026