New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a meeting with state cabinet ministers today. Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also joined the meeting via video conferencing and addressed the ministers and MLAs.
Kejriwal appreciated the MLAs of the party for defeating various bigshots in the state and said that now it is time to focus on the work which the party promised to the people. He also hailed Bhagwant Mann and said that entire Punjab is proud of him as in just three days of taking the oath, he showed his commitment to serve the pople of Punjab.
Kejriwal said that Mann launched the anti-corruption 'action line' which will now help in making Punjab corruption-free just in the same way as Delhi. He further said that Mann's announcement of providing 25,000 government jobs is the first step to solving the issue of unemployment in the state.
He said, "The whole country is talking about Bhagwant Mann and his works. Compensation for crops damaged in October has been released and farmers will get cheques in the coming days. You have done a good work within 3 days of forming the govt."
Talking to the MLAs, Kejriwal said that they will have to work 20 hours a day to fulfill their goals and there is no time to rest. He also said that if any minister doesn't reach his/ her objectives then people will seek the resignation of that minister and the party will have to take harsh steps.
He said, "Bhagwant Mann will give a target to each minister and they have to do the work within the fixed time limit. You have to work day and night. If your target is not fulfilled then the public will say change the minister."
The AAP chief also targeted the Bhartiya Janata Party and said that even though the BJP won in four states, there is still infighting going on and they haven't staked claim to form the government whereas AAP has already begun its work in Punjab.
Kejriwal said, "BJP which has won in 4 states is not able to form govt till now due to fighting within party. You all have to work together under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann. I'm like your elder brother to give guidance."
The AAP swept the polls in Punjab Assembly elections winning 92 seats in the 117-member House.
Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Punjab at Khatkar Kalan. A day after on Saturday, ten party MLAs were sworn in as cabinet ministers in the state. Harpal Singh Cheema, Dr Baljit Kaur, Harbhajan Singh, Dr Vijay Singla, Lal Chand, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Bram Shanker, and Harjot Singh were the 10 AAP MLAs who were sworn in as ministers on Saturday.
The Punjab cabinet can have a total of 18 ministers, including the Chief Minister. The state government can expand the cabinet to include some more members. CM Mann also chaired his first cabinet meeting with the newly elected ministers on Saturday.