Capt may take oath with small team

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 14

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will attend the March-16 swearing-in ceremony of Capt Amarinder Singh as Chief Minister in Punjab. Rahul agreed to attend the event on a personal invitation extended by Captain here today.

The two also discussed the structure of the Cabinet,  likely to be inducted in two parts — a small team first, followed by an expansion later.

Asha Kumari, Congress in-charge of Punjab, told The Tribune: “Cabinet expansion is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. It is up to Capt Amarinder to balance regions, castes, seniority and talent in his Cabinet. He discussed the composition with the Congress vice-president and a final approval will come from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi soon. We are looking at a small Cabinet first and an expansion later.” Captain is reported to have favoured a low-key swearing-in due to poor financial health of Punjab.

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On the possibility of Navjot Singh Sidhu taking oath as Deputy CM, Kumari said: “There is no such post in the Constitution. However, it is up to Capt Amarinder to see if he wants a deputy.”

It is learnt that Capt Amarinder wants some seniormost MLAs to be sworn in with him and have a full Cabinet later. Brahm Mohindra and Rakesh Pandey, both six-time MLAs, are among the most senior legislators in the state unit. OP Soni and Manpreet Badal are five-time MLAs, while Navjot Sidhu is a four-time MP and a first-time MLA.

Other names under consideration are Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Rana Sodhi, Rana KP and Raj Kumar Verka. Senior Dalit leader Aruna Chaudhry, party’s minority face Razia Sultana, former MP Vijay Inder Singla and Olympian Pargat Singh may also figure among ministers.

Sources say there will be 17 ministers, besides the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and a CPS attached to the CM’s office.