Punjab AAP in a huddle over Cabinet berths; eye on balancing caste, regional equations
India Today
New Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been given a free hand by the AAP high command to decide on his cabinet, sources said, adding that Mann is keen on inducting senior MLAs into his Cabinet.
Bhagwant Mann, a day after taking oath as Punjab’s 17th chief minister, has gone into a huddle with other senior party leaders to pick his Cabinet, party sources told India Today TV.
The new chief minister has been given a free hand by the party high command to decide on his cabinet, the sources said, adding that Mann is keen on inducting senior MLAs into his Cabinet. Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab in-charge Raghav Chaddha also hinted that the cabinet ministers’ selection is the prerogative of the chief minister.
Keeping up with the party’s pre-poll promise, Punjab will get two deputy chief ministers, one each from the Hindu and the Dalit communities.
Former Leader of the Opposition and a prominent Dalit face Harpal Singh Cheema is a front runner for the post of the deputy chief minister. Cheema, elected for the second time from the state’s Dirba constituency, has been highly critical of the Badals and former Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh.
Also Read: | Family, politics & Punjab: The twists and turns of CM Bhagwant Mann’s life
Prominent names doing the rounds for Cabinet positions also include Kultar Singh Sandwa, Aman Arora, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, and Jaikishan Singh Rodi, among others.
According to the sources, three of the 11 women MLAs will be part of the Cabinet. While MLA Baljinder Kaur and first-timer Jivan Jyot Kaur, who defeated Navjot Singh Sidhu, are being tipped as Cabinet ministers, MLA Sarbjit Kaur Manuke will likely be named as Assembly Speaker.
