CM Bhagwant Mann’s New Cabinet Takes Oath; 8 First-Timers, 1 Woman Inducted

Punjab cabinet: Ten ministers, including a woman, were on Saturday inducted in the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab. Among the 10 ministers, eight are first-time MLAs.

Chandigarh: Ten ministers, including a woman, took oath as Cabinet Ministers in Punjab assembly on Saturday. The swearing-in comes days after AAP leader Bhagwant Mann took oath as the new Chief Minister of Punjab. The swearing-in ceremony of the Mann’s cabinet was held at Punjab Raj Bhawan at 11 am. The cabinet is a mixture of MLAs from various professions including two agriculturists, three advocates, two doctors, a social worker, an engineer and a businessman. According to a reports, The MLAs also represent different regions in Punjab. Of the ten, five belong to Malwa, four are from Majha and one is from Doaba region.

The ceremony began with the former leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, who is a second time MLA from Dirba, taking the oath. Apart from Cheema, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, who won a second term from Barnala, is the only two-time MLA in the Cabinet.

Others are first-timers, including Dr Baljit Kaur from Malout, Harbhajan Singh ETO from Jandiala, Dr Vijay Singla from Mansa, Lal Chand Kataru Chak from Bhoa, Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal from Ajnala, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Patti, Bram Shankar (Jimpa) from Hoshiarpur and Harjot Singh Bains from Anandpur Sahib.

In the first list, the party has accommodated four SCs. It has given representation to five from Malwa (Dirba, Malout, Mansa, Barnala and Anandpur Sahib); four from Majha (Jandiala, Bhoa, Ajnala and Patti); and only one from Doaba (Hoshiarpur). There is only one woman, four Jats, four SCs and two Hindus on the list.

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Swearing-in Ceremony of AAP Punjab Govt's New Cabinet | LIVE https://t.co/glpPOPsAvG

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 19, 2022

No berths to those who toppled giants

While inducting eight first-time MLAs in the Punjab cabinet, the Aam Aadmi Party ignored all giant-killers and most of second-timers, except two. Except former leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, all the remaining ministers have made their debut in the new state cabinet.

Earlier, on March 17, Punjab’s newly-elected MLAs including Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took oath as members of the Legislative Assembly. The legislators were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Protem Speaker Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar.

Punjab CM to launch anti-corruption helpline on March 23

A day after being sworn in as Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced that an anti-corruption helpline will be launched in the state on Shaheed Diwas on March 23.

The newly elected chief minister said that people will be able to lodge complaints against corruption via WhatsApp. “99 per cent of people are honest, because of 1 per cent the system breaks down,” said Mann.

Mann had also taken to Twitter to post, “On the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh ji, we will launch the anti-corruption helpline number. That will be my personal WhatsApp number. If anyone asks you for a bribe, send it to me by recording a video/audio of it. A strict action will be taken against the corrupt. Corruption will no longer work in Punjab.”

The AAP registered a landslide victory in recently concluded Punjab Assembly polls, winning 92 seats, pushing most of its rivals to the margins. Congress won 18 seats in the 117-member Assembly.