Chandigarh: On Monday, the Punjab Council of Ministers welcomed five new ministers.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath of office and secrecy to Hardeep Singh Mundian, Barinder Kumar Goyal, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Ravjot Singh, and Mohinder Bhagat.
The newly appointed ministers (picture credit – The Tribune)
The majority of ministers, a few MLAs, top officials, and the families and friends of the new recruits were present for the 20-minute event, which took place in the Punjab Raj Bhawan in a calm and serious manner.
When the new ministers were invited in to take the oath of office, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was present on stage. The recently appointed ministers shook hands, hugged, and expressed gratitude to the CM after taking an oath.
Mundian touched the feet of the CM and the Governor, asking for their blessings.
Punjab’s Cabinet reshuffling
These ministers were selected following a comprehensive background investigation by the AAP’s top brass, which included requesting a list of “honest MLAs” from senior leaders and MPs within the party. There has been discussion of a cabinet reorganize ever since the results of the Lok Sabha elections were announced in June.
With this, the Punjab cabinet led by Bhagwant Mann has 16 ministers in total. This still leaves two vacant posts in the Cabinet, leaving room for more inductions later.
The party’s decision to remove four ministers from the cabinet—Balkaur Singh, Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Chetan Singh Jouramajra, and Anmol Gagan Maan—led to an agreement to induct the new members on Sunday. Yesterday, the four had sent in their resignations.
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