Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi met Governor Banwarilal Purohit this afternoon, presumably to share the names.
Notably, Charanjit Singh Channi took oath as Punjab Chief Minister earlier this week on Monday, visited Delhi thrice to discuss the cabinet renovation and it is said that he has now finalized the names for his cabinet, sources said today, after discussion with Rahul Gandhi.
Fifteen ministers in the new cabinet are likely to take oath tomorrow and there will be seven new entrants, while sources say that five ministers from the Amarinder Singh cabinet are likely to be dropped where some of Captain’s loyalists will stay, others are anticipated to be shown the door.
Raj Kumar Verka, Kuljit Nagra, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Pargat Singh, Raja Warring, Rana Gurjeet, and Surjit Singh Dhiman are the new entrants, as per sources.
However, some of the loyalists of Captain – Brahm Mohindra, Vijendra Singla and Bharat Bhushan Ashu – have been retained.
Health Minister Balbir Sidhu, Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Sports Minister Rana, and three other ministers – Gurmeet Sodhi, SS Arora, Gurpreet Kangar – are likely to be replaced.
“I am the aam aadmi, sitting here while other parties keep talking about aam aadmi. This is the aam aadmi sarkar. It has to take many decisions for Punjab,” Mr Channi said on Monday after taking the oath, setting the right mood for the assembly elections.
Along with Mr Channi, his two deputies- Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Om Prakash Soni were also sworn in. Both have been carefully chosen to strengthen Congress’s election gears.
