Braving the tough waves of resentment from within the party, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday went all out to settle down his new Cabinet colleagues in their offices moving from one floor to another in the Punjab Civil Secretariat.
The prevailing annoyance within the party, for not giving due representation to the dalits, especially the backward classes and balmiki category, did not seem to affect Capt Amarinder who argued that out of 77 MlAs, only 18 can be elevated as Ministers.
“Those left out would be suitably accommodated, as I have already promised,” said Capt Amarinder whole defending his nine new picks as the “best” one selected by him.
However, many Ministers — Charanjit Singh Channi, OP Soni, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Balbir Sidhu — are also reported to be unhappy with their ministries. The issue was raised internally, but everything appeared to be perfect on the face of it.
A senior party leader confirmed The Pioneer that some ministers have raised their concerns and expressed unhappiness with their portfolios wile terming it as of “less importance”.
“Some ministers are not happy with their departments…the party is looking into it. They have been asked to continue for now, and changes, if required, will be made after reviewing the performances of all ministers,” the leader said.
The leader added that the party has also started the process of “preparing a list of leaders, MlAs who can be appointed as chairmen of boards and corporations, in the market committees, and also legislative assistants if the proposal of their appointment gets through”.
Indian Youth Congress president and firebrand MlA Raja Amarinder Singh Warring, who was present at the Secretariat on Tuesday, did not mince a word to say that he was all prepared to be the Cabinet Minister.
“I so much wanted to be the Minister…and everyone should have such aspirations to move ahead in their life, in their career…But I am not upset that I was not given the chance,” said Warring.
Capt Amarinder, who mostly functions from his camp office at his official residence, was seen moving from floor to floor, greeting his new ministers and wishing them luck on their first official day.
Staring from the seventh floor where a paath of Sri Sukhmani Sahib marked the installation of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and labour Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, Chief Minister also visited the offices of Power Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on the same floor.
Accompanied by senior party functionaries including Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, Capt Amarinder also visited the office of his trusted lieutenant Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi and escorted him, to his chair as the Sports Minister at the sixth floor.
At the fifth floor, the Chief Minister visited the PWD and IT Minister Vijay Inder Singla—who took over the charge a day before, and also the offices of Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, and Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora.
later, Capt Amarinder also visited the offices of Education and Environment Minister OP Soni, Cooperation and Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and the Higher Education Minister Razia Sultana — who was elevated to the Cabinet Minister’s rank in the recent expansion exercise.
Chief Minister said that the new ministers would infuse a fresh wave of dynamism into the government, and “I am confident that they will perform well with the best having been selected for the jobs”.
Defending his Minister for not having sufficient qualifications to head their departments, Capt Amarinder contended that they all had qualified and experienced staff to help them carry out their jobs.
“A defence minister is not an Army General,” quipped the Chief Minister.