Punjab (The Stellar News) Saksham Kalia: After a prolonged discussion of Congress high command in multiple meeting with Newly appointed Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, congress high command approves new cabinet of Punjab. in past four days, CM Punjab went three times to national capital for meetings with senior leaders.
As per sources, the party have decided to induct seven new faces into cabinet and also dropped five ministers. Reports said that, CM went to governor’s house for official approval and will ask him for time to organize oath taking ceremony, suspected to be happen on 26th of September.
In the meeting, where Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Harish Rawat, Harish Chaudhary and Ajay Maken were also present, the party is learnt to have reached a consensus on dropping former Health Minister Balbir Sidhu, Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Industries Minister Sunder Sham Arora, Social Welfare Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi.
The meeting also reached a consensus on re-inducting former Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjit Singh. He was earlier a minister in Amarinder’s Cabinet but had stepped down after an alleged scam in allotment of sand mines to his ex-employees.
Others who were finalised last night include PPCC general secretary incharge Pargat Singh, PPCC Working President, Kuljit Nagra and Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. They are PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu’s choices. Sidhu pushed for them even as Channi was learnt to be opposing the induction of Pargat and Nagra on the plea that they were holding important positions in party organisation and they would not be able to do justice if they are given more responsibility.
Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was also opposing Warring tooth and nail. But Sidhu is learnt to have had his way.
Sources said other new faces on which the party leaders reached a consensus included Dr Raj Kumar Verka, PPCC working president Sangat Singh Gilzian and Gurkirat Kotli.
