Punjab Cabinet to get five new faces today

The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will get five new faces on Monday evening, while four ministers will be dropped by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

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Four ministers to lose berth

Local Bodies Minister Balkaur Singh, Horticulture and Public Relations Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Revenue Minister Brahm Shankar Jimpa and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Maan

Though there is no official announcement of the names of new inductees or the ones being dropped, sources in the government and AAP claim that Mohinder Bhagat, who just won the Jalandhar West bypoll, Sham Churasi MLA Dr Ravjot Singh, Khanna MLA Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Lehragaga MLA Barinder Goyal and Sahnewal MLA Hardeep Singh Mundian will be inducted into the Cabinet. The CM had earlier announced that Bhagat would be in the Cabinet soon. The government has sought time from Governor Gulab Chand Kataria for inducting the new ministers into the Cabinet on Monday evening.

Among those to be dropped are: Local Bodies Minister Balkaur Singh, Horticulture and Public Relations Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Revenue Minister Brahm Shankar Jimpa and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Maan. All four have reportedly submitted their resignations.

A number of senior ministers were called to Delhi on Sunday afternoon. They held a meeting with AAP top brass, including Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier, senior party leaders were asked to submit a list of “honest MLAs” who could be inducted into the Council of Ministers. Sources say the portfolios of some of the ministers may be changed. This is the fourth time in the AAP’s 30-month rule in Punjab that the Cabinet reshuffle is being done. As of now, there are 15 ministers in the Cabinet, including CM Bhagwant Mann. In all, the state Cabinet can have 18 ministers. After the reshuffle tomorrow, there will still be two vacant Cabinet berths.