Chandigarh: The meeting of Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi Chief Minister with Punjab officers on Monday, allegedly in the absence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has created a controversy.

The Congress party has accused the AAP chief of "remote control" weeks after the party's election victory.

In the meeting, Kejriwal allegedly met with top executives of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), as well as the state's Chief Secretary and Secretary of Power. However, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was not present.

The opposition Akali Dal and Congress jumped on claims that Bhagwant Mann, who took over as Chief Minister following AAP's victory in Punjab last month, was not present at the meeting.

In the absence of CM Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal summoned IAS officers. This reveals the de facto CM and Delhi remote control. A clear violation of federalism and an insult to Punjabi pride. Both parties must clarify. Former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu took to Twitter to express his displeasure.

Former CM Capt Amarinder Singh said that AAP chief Kejriwal had taken over Punjab long before expected. He said he was fearing the worst and that happened.

"Worst was feared, worst happened. ArvindKejriwal has taken over Punjab much before it was expected to happen. That BhagwantMann is a rubber stamp was a foregone conclusion already, now Kejriwal has proved it right by chairing Punjab officers' meeting in Delhi," Amarinder Singh tweeted.

It was an informal meeting.

AAP spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang told media people that it was an informal meeting. He said Kejriwal is their national convener and they always take his guidance. An informal meeting was held for the betterment of Punjab and to take constructive steps, he said.

Top leaders of AAP, including Kejriwal, have yet to respond to this criticism from the opposition.