Amarinder hints at Cabinet expansion post byelection

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today hinted at Cabinet expansion after the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection and distributing some of his portfolios among his Cabinet colleagues.

The issue emerged in a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Chief Minister today. Technical Education Minister Charanjeet Singh Channi, in a lighter vein, suggested the CM to distribute some of his portfolios among his colleagues as he was “overburdened”.

Amarinder holds several crucial portfolios, including transport, agriculture, and excise and taxation. There are at present 10 Cabinet ministers, including the Chief Minister.

Replying in the same vein, Amarinder said he would expand the Cabinet and distribute some of his portfolios after the byelection. Sources said Health Minister Brahm Mohindra also spoke on the matter.

Since August last, several party MLAs have been lobbying for a Cabinet berth. Amarinder had inducted nine ministers, seven in Cabinet and two as ministers of state on March 16. As per rules, Punjab cannot have more than 18 ministers, including the CM. There is also growing discontent among Dalit MLAs who claim there should be at least five Dalit ministers. Presently, there are three such ministers — Charanjeet Channi, Aruna Chaudhary and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot.