Swearing-in: Many leaders stay away

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 21

Simmering tension in the state Congress was evident as nearly 25 party MLAs stayed away from the swearing-in ceremony of nine newly inducted Cabinet ministers at Punjab Raj Bhavan here on Saturday.

Three MLAs, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Nathu Ram and Surjit Dhiman, have already resigned from all party posts over "inadequate representation to Dalits" in the state Cabinet.

In a brief low-key ceremony, all nine newly-inducted Cabinet ministers were administered oath of office and secrecy in Punjabi by Governor VP Badnore, with their family members and senior Congress leaders closely following the events. Aruna Chaudhary and Razia Sultana were elevated to the Cabinet rank. The Capt Amarinder Singh Cabinet now has a total strength of 18.

Barring Punjab affairs incharge Asha Kumari and Harish Chaudhary, no other senior national leader was seen at the ceremony.

Following the tradition of abstaining from the VIP culture, new cars allotted to the newly inducted ministers were without red beacons.

Sources said the Congress would have to burn midnight oil to smoothen the ruffled feathers of disgruntled legislators, including Raj Kumar Verka, Randeep Nabha, Amrik Singh Dhillon, Pargat Singh, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Navtej Cheema, Rakesh Pandey and Surinder Dawar, who among others were conspicuous by their absence at the swearing-in ceremony. 

PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar said efforts were being made to mollify the annoyed legislators. "Everyone should realise that not all MLAs can be inducted into the Cabinet," he said.

No dissent: CM

Talking to The Tribune, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh denied that Dalits and OBCs are inadequately represented. “The Cabinet already has 25 per cent representation for Dalits. We have to take many factors into consideration while shortlisting the probables. There were “no swollen faces” in the process as the focus was to strike a regional and caste balance to ensure holistic development of the state,” he said. The CM said all MLAs who had not found place in the Council of Ministers would be given positions in various boards and corporations.

Backward Classes ignored, says AAP

Chandigarh: AAP on Saturday criticised the Congress and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for “ignoring the Backward Classes”. In a press statement, Kotkapura AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan said the list of newly appointed ministers showed the feudal mindset of Amarinder as he failed to induct any minister from the SC/BCs. Rubbishing that seniority criteria was followed while expanding the Cabinet, he said if was the parameter, then Sangat Singh Gilzian, Raj Kumar Verka and Pargat Singh would have been inducted. TNS