Punjab Cabinet expansion: Sanjeev Arora likely to be inducted on Thursday

The Bhagwant Mann Government in Punjab is all set to undergo a Cabinet expansion on Thursday. This will be the seventh expansion of the AAP government’s ministry in its three-year rule. While the induction of Sanjeev Arora, the newly elected MLA from Ludhiana West constituency, is certain, it is still unclear whether the government will induct new ministers into the 16-member Cabinet. Punjab can have up to 18 ministers in the Cabinet, including the Chief Minister.

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Arora will be sworn in as a minister at the Punjab Raj Bhawan on Thursday afternoon. His induction into the cabinet was certain as soon as he was elected as an MLA last week. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had announced during Arora’s election campaign that he would be made a minister once elected. Last week, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann too had confirmed that he was bringing Arora into his cabinet. However, his induction was delayed due to the unavailability of Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.

There is also some speculation about the possibility of some ministers’ portfolios being changed.