Punjab: Cabinet reshuffles ministries as 1 MLA quits, 2 join
What's the story
In a big cabinet reshuffle, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann inducted two new ministers—Kartarpur MLA Balkar Singh and Lambi MLA Gurmeet Singh Khudian—as cabinet ministers on Wednesday. This comes a day after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Inderbir Singh Nijjer quit the council of ministers, citing personal reasons. On Tuesday, Mann sent Nijjer's resignation to Governor Banwari Lal Purohit for early acceptance.
Twitter Post
Two new ministers inducted into Punjab cabinet
Governor and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Banwari Lal Purohit administered the oath of office and secrecy to Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Balkar Singh as Cabinet Ministers of the state in a brief but impressive ceremony at Punjab Raj Bhawan in the presence of CM @BhagwantMann. pic.twitter.com/0XARERgsyZ
— Government of Punjab (@PunjabGovtIndia) May 31, 2023
Details
Singh, Khudian get important departments
After being sworn in, Singh was allocated to the ministries of Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs. Meanwhile, Khudian got Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development, and Food Processing. Moreover, cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer got Water Resources, Mines and Geology, Science, Technology and Environment, Sports and Youth Services, and Conservation of Land and Water.
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This is Mann's 3rd cabinet expansion in 14 months
Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar got the departments of Transport, and Rural Development and Panchayat. In a major setback, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal will now hold only low-profile departments of Non-Residents of India (NRI) Affairs and Administrative Reforms. This is the third cabinet expansion by Mann during his tenure of 14 months. The Punjab cabinet now has 16 ministers, including Mann.