Sanjeev Arora to join Punjab Cabinet today; portfolio rejig on cards

The much anticipated expansion of the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab will take place on Thursday. This will be the seventh expansion of the AAP Cabinet in its over three-year rule.

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While the induction of Sanjeev Arora, the newly elected MLA from the Ludhiana West constituency, will take place on Thursday afternoon, there will also be a rejig of the portfolios held by ministers. The new portfolios of ministers will be announced after the oath-taking ceremony.

Arora will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. The portfolio to be allocated to new minister Arora has so far not been announced by Chief Minister Mann, though there is speculation that he will get a portfolio dealing with urban voters. Besides the department to be taken away from another minister and allocated to Arora, there are speculations of changes in the portfolios of some other ministers too.

As of now, there are 16 ministers in the Mann-led Cabinet, and two berths are lying vacant. Sources in the ruling party have told The Tribune that the AAP leadership does not want to fill the vacancies immediately and an expansion will again take place later this year. There is also speculation of one minister being dropped. If this happens, the Punjab Cabinet will continue to have two vacant berths.

Arora was promised a Cabinet berth after he agreed to contest the bypoll.