Punjab Cabinet Reshuffle: Bhagwant Mann-Led Govt Inducts 5 New Ministers, Know Who Gets What
Punjab's Bhagwant Mann-led government inducted five new MLAs as ministers. This is the fourth Cabinet reshuffle in the Aam Aadmi Party government's 30-month tenure.
The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government inducted five new MLAs as ministers on Monday, marking a significant Cabinet reshuffle. Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers during a swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, along with several party leaders, was present at the event.
The newly sworn-in ministers include Hardeep Singh Mundian, Barinder Kumar Goyal, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Dr Ravjot Singh, and Mohinder Bhagat. The oath-taking ceremony was conducted in Punjabi. Among the new inductees, three hail from the Malwa region and two from the Doaba region.
This marks the fourth Cabinet reshuffle in the 30-month tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. The reshuffle comes just days after AAP's national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the excise policy case and subsequently released from Tihar Jail.
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Punjab Cabinet Portfolio Allocation
In the reshuffled Cabinet, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will continue to hold key portfolios, including Home Affairs, Justice, Personnel, Civil Aviation, Sports & Youth Services, and Science Technology & Environment, among others.
Key ministers who retained their portfolios include:
- Harpal Singh Chima: Finance, Excise & Taxation, Planning, Programme Implementation
- Aman Arora: New & Renewable Energy Sources, Printing & Stationery, Employment Generation & Training
- Dr Baljit Kaur: Social Justice Empowerment, Social Security, Women & Child Development
- Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal: NRI Affairs, Administrative Reforms
- Dr Balbir Singh: Health & Family Welfare, Medical Education & Research, Elections
- Laljit Singh Bhullar: Transport & Jails
- Harbhajan Singh ETO: Power, Public Works (B&R)
- Lal Singh Kataruchak: Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Forests & Wildlife
- Harjot Singh Bains: Technical Education, Higher Education, School Education, Information & Public Relations
- Gurmeet Singh Khudian: Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Dairy Development, Food Processing
Newly inducted ministers have been entrusted with significant roles:
- Hardeep Singh Mundian: Revenue, Rehabilitation & Disaster Management, Water Supply & Sanitation, Housing & Urban Development
- Barinder Kumar Goyal: Mines & Geology, Water Resources, Conservation of Land & Water
- Tarunpreet Singh Sond: Tourism & Culture Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labour, Hospitality, Industry & Commerce, Rural Development & Panchayats
- Dr Ravjot Singh: Local Government, Parliamentary Affairs
- Mohinder Bhagat: Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, Horticulture
Prior to the reshuffle, four ministers—Chetan Singh Jouramajra (Public Relations, Defence Services, Horticulture), Anmol Gagan Maan (Tourism and Investment Promotion), Balkar Singh (Local Government, Parliamentary Affairs), and Bram Shanker Jimpa (Revenue)—were dropped from the Mann Cabinet.
With the addition of five ministers and the removal of four, the Cabinet’s strength now stands at 16, including the Chief Minister. The maximum allowable strength of the Punjab Cabinet is 18 ministers.
#WATCH | After taking oath as Minsiter, AAP leader Tarunpreet Singh Sond says, "I thank the party high command - Arvind Kejriwal, CM Bhagwant Mann. I will work in the service of Punjab with all my heart..." https://t.co/QQOfjYTPrx pic.twitter.com/OnKZgQuUaq
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2024
Speaking to news agency ANI, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, after taking his oath, expressed gratitude to the party leadership, saying, "I thank the party high command—Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. I will work in the service of Punjab with all my heart."
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