Chandigarh, March 6
Going through initial pangs, which are common to any coalition government, the SAD-BJP government is still undecided about the responsibilities to be given to each of 18 members of its Cabinet.
An inordinate delay in the announcement of portfolios has not only fuelled speculations but also put the head of the new government under pressure, more so when he has taken the “appease-all” course.
Both BJP and SAD ministers are reluctant to accept ministries other than those of their choice. Though Chief Minister has been in touch with the national leadership of the BJP, final decision may still take one or two more days before being made public.
Disputes, if any, are on important portfolios like home, finance, industries, excise and taxation, local bodies and food and supplies. Interestingly, takers for education, social welfare, youth affairs and labour and employment are few.
Pressure built by the BJP leadership for the allotment of important portfolios to its
ministers has a cascading effect within the SAD with some of its senior members insisting on portfolios of their choice.
Even after four days of the swearing-in ceremony, the ministers are still waiting to take charge of their expected departments. When the first meeting of the Cabinet was held today, it was Chief Minister’s office that had to come out with all the agenda items.
People of the state are looking at the new government with high hopes on acceleration in pace of socio-economic development with emphasis on human resource development.
The Chief Minister may have to take some hard decisions in the larger interest of the state as well as the coalition government to “quell dissidence or resentment”. The sooner the decisions are taken the better it would be for the government.
Pressure on the Chief Minister is not only relating to the distribution of portfolios but also rehabilitation of senior leaders of the alliance who couldn’t win the elections.
Balwinder Singh Bhunder, who represented Sardulgarh for eight consecutive times, has been defeated this time. A trusted member of the Badal family, he may be given either chairmanship of one of the premier boards or corporations or the ticket for the Rajya Sabha, byelection to which is scheduled for later this month.
In fact, the SAD had announced that the Rajya Sabha seat vacated due to the untimely death of Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder will go to Daljit Singh Cheema, secretary and press secretary of the SAD. In case, Cheema gets the ticket, Bhunder would be made chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board.
Similarly, Tota Singh, Gurdev Singh Badal, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Baldev Singh Mann also need to be rehabilitated.
The appointments in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat are still to be completed. Though certain requests have gone to the Centre for repatriation of certain officers, the process of an anticipated administrative reshuffle is yet to begin.
While all these issues remain unsettled, the government has the first session of the Vidhan Sabha on hands. It has to get vote on account as well as the Punjab State Vigilance Commission Act repealed besides electing a Speaker.
