Punjab Cabinet reshuffle: Five new ministers take oath as Punjab Cabinet ministers; 4 ministers dropped | Who gets what?
Punjab Cabinet reshuffle: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reshuffled his Cabinet on Monday, marking the fourth reshuffle in his 30-month term. Hardeep Singh Mundian, Tarunpreet S Sondh, Barinder Goyal, Dr Ravjot Singh and Mohinder Bhagat are the five new members who were sworn in at Raj Bhawan. The oath was administered by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. Meanwhile, four ministers have been dropped. They are Balkaur Singh, Anmol Gagan Mann, Chetan Singh Jauramajra and Brahm Shankar Jhimpa.
Barinder Goyal, an advocate and MLA from Lehragaga, has been sworn in as a Cabinet minister, ensuring representation for the Bania community, which has been without a minister since Vijay Singla's dismissal on corruption charges. The Bania community, influential in several constituencies, is crucial for the AAP's political strategy.
Similarly, Mohinder Bhagat, MLA from Jalandhar West, has also taken the oath as a Cabinet minister, adding another Scheduled Caste representative to the reshuffle. Alongside Bhagat, Dr Ravjot Singh, MLA from Sham Chaurasi, was considered for his role in securing the Dalit vote bank in the Doaba region, where the community holds significant influence.
Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib, two of Punjab’s key regions, have also received attention in this reshuffle. After over two years, MLAs from these areas have been appointed to the Cabinet. Hardeep Singh Mundian, MLA from Sahnewal, and Tarunpreet Singh, MLA from Khanna, both businessmen representing the Sikh community, have now been elevated to ministerial positions.
Portfolio allocation for ministers announced
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will retain the following portfolios: General Administration (GAD), Home Affairs & Justice Personnel, Co-operation, Legal & Legislative Affairs, Civil Aviation, Science, Technology & Environment Sports & Youth Services
Harpal Singh Cheema has been entrusted with Finance Planning, Programme Implementation and Excise & Taxation.
Aman Arora will oversee New & Renewable Energy Sources, Printing & Stationary. Governance Reforms & Removal of Grievances, Employment Generation & Training
Dr Baljit Kaur will manage Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities, Social Security and Women & Child Development. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has been allocated NRI Affairs and Administrative Reforms
Dr Balbir Singh will handle Health & Family Welfare, Medical Education & Research and Elections. Hardeep Singh Mundian will manage Revenue, Rehabilitation & Disaster Management, Water Supply & Sanitation and Housing & Urban Development.
Lal Singh Kattaruchak will oversee Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Forests and Wildlife. Laljit Singh Bhullar has been given Transport and Jails.
Harjot Singh Bains has a wide array of responsibilities, including Technical Education & Industrial Training, Higher Education, School Education and Information & Public Relations. Harbhajan Singh ETO has been assigned Power, Public Works (B&R). Barinder Kumar Goyal will manage Mines & Geology, Water Resources, Conservation of Land & Water. Tarunpreet Singh Sond will be responsible for Tourism & Culture Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labour, Hospitality Industry & Commerce and Rural Development & Panchayats.
Dr Ravjot Singh will oversee Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs. Gurmeet Singh Khudian has been tasked with Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Dairy Development Food Processing.
Mohinder Bhagat will handle Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, Horticulture.
- PTC NEWS
