Capt Amarinder Singh takes oath as Punjab CM

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 16

Congress Legislature Party leader Capt Amarinder Singh was on Thursday sworn in as the 26th Chief Minister of Punjab. He took oath as CM for a second time at a well-organised ceremony at Punjab Raj Bhawan here.

Minutes before the beginning of the ceremony, security personnel had a tough time controlling Congress leaders trying to get through the security cordon at the entrance to the VVIP venue for special dignitaries.

Amarinder was wearing a full-sleeve kurta and a black jacket and sported his medals.

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A battery of Congress leaders were present. These included former PM Manmohan Singh, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Rajinder Gupta, Navin Jindal, Sachin Pilot, Rajiv Shukla and Raj Babbar.

Amarinder, along with seven cabinet and two ministers of state (independent charge), was administered the oath by Governor VP Singh Badnore.

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The first one to take oath after Amarinder was seniormost Congress MLA Brahm Mohindra, followed by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Manpreet Singh Badal, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Rana Gurjeet, Charanjit Singh Channi and ministers of state Aruna Chaudhary and Razia Sultana.

Mohindra, immediately after taking the oath, walked up to Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi to take their blessings. Other ministers followed suit. Rahul warmly greeted Charanjit Singh Channi, Navot Sidhu and Manpreet Badal.

While Amarinder and Rana Gurjeet took oath in English, Aruna Chaudhary took it in Hindi and others in Punjabi.

Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka were conspicuous by their absence.

The cynosure of all eyes was Arusa Alam, Amarinder’s friend, who was seated in the first row of the VVIP enclosure. Most leaders made it a point to exchange pleasantries and get them photographed with her.

Later, she said she hoped for peace between India and Pakistan. She said she would pray for Amarinder so that he could discharge his duties well.

In the family enclosure, Preneet Kaur and Malwinder Singh, brother of Amarinder, were among those present.

Highlights

*PM Narendra Modi congratulates Amarinder on taking over as CM; wishes him the best in working for the state’s development

*Order of swearing-in: Amarinder Singh, Brahm Mohindra, Navjot Sidhu, Manpreet Badal, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Charanjit Singh Channi, Aruna Chaudhary and Razia Sultana

*Harinder Singh Khalsa, AAP MP, was the only leader from the Opposition to participate in the ceremony

*Tripat Rajinder Bajwa gets himself clicked with Rahul Gandhi

*Sadhu Singh Dharamsot also greets Rahul

*Manpreet Badal seeks blessings of Amarinder before his swearing-in. Later, he meets Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi

*Navjot Sidhu takes blessings of Rahul and Manmohan after his swearing-in

*His wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu greets him and congratulates him after he is sworn in

*Navjot Sidhu forgets to shake hands with the Governor; is reminded by the secretary

*Traffic jam near Punjab Governor’s house

*Raj Babbar and Vir Sanghvi also present at the venue

*Security personnel have a tough time manning the VVIP entrance to the venue

*Ex-Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress leader Kapil Sibal present