The first cabinet meeting is slated for March 18. At a function in the Raj Bhavan, nine cabinet ministers were also sworn in
Reiterating his promise to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) to wipe out the drug menace from Punjab within four weeks, enlisting farm loan waiver, industrial revival and employment, Captain Amarinder Singh started his second term as Punjab Chief Minister.
The first cabinet meeting is slated for March 18. At a function in the Raj Bhavan, nine cabinet ministers were also sworn in.
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi attended the ceremony along with Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh, former Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda, former MP CM Digvijay Singh and former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.
With two seniormost Congress leaders – Sunil Jakhar and R K Bhattal – left out of the race after being defeated, the party’s five-time MLA Brahm Mohindra remained the second seniormost minister.
A prominent Hindu face, Mohindra was given the Health and Family Welfare, Research and Medical Education and Parliamentary Affairs. Former cricketer Navjot Sidhu, whose name did the rounds for the Deputy CM’s post, was given Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Affairs. Known for trading barbs with Captain Amarinder several times in the past, he touched the CM’s feet soon after he took oath.
The party maintained a studied silence over the post of Deputy CM, even as the elevation of Sidhu led to murmurs of discontent among some senior leaders. Sidhu, a former BJP MP, had joined Congress 20 days before the elections and is a prominent Jat-Sikh face in the Cabinet after Captain.
Former CM Parkash Singh Badal’s estranged nephew, Manpreet Bal, was allotted Finance Planning and Employment Generation, keeping with his portfolio when he was an MLA in Akali Dal. Beginning with the decision to end the VIP culture, Badal refused the government vehicle and security as he reached Raj Bhavan in his vehicle.
With 32 per cent Dalit voters in state, three Dalit leaders, including a woman, were given representation in the cabinet. Sadhu Singh Dharmakot was given Forests, Printing and Stationary and made in charge of Welfare of SCs and BCs, Charanjit Singh Channi was given the portfolio of Technical Education and Training.
Keeping with the government’s austerity measures , the ceremony was a low-key affair. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged “step-motherly” treatment of its MLAs. In a statement, Leader of Opposition AAP MLA HS Phoolka alleged that the MLAs were not even provided chairs and blamed the Congress for having a “feudal mindset”. “This was the first time in history when the Chief Minister was taking oath of his office and the leader of main opposition party, along with other MLAs, was standing on the back of the pandal.
“If the Congress cannot organise a function properly, what can the people expect from them?” alleged another AAP MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
The Congress spokesperson asked AAP to play the role of a constructive opposition and criticised AAP for indulging in theatrics.
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