Going by the maxim of bigger the better, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has finally set the ball rolling for the much-awaited expansion of his Cabinet by meeting the Congress national president Rahul Gandhi.
With nine posts up for grabs, the first level of short-listing the names of “deserving” and the “eligible” candidates has been cleared while another meeting between the two is slated for the next week where the final decision is most likely.
The expansion, which the Capt Amarinder Government was planning to coincide with the Congress’ first year completion in power, was deferred over and over again with the aspirants waiting in the wings. For them, the “unending” wait is getting irritatingly longer.
The expansion was first put off for civic body polls in December, and then in February. Capt Amarinder had announced that new ministers would be inducted after ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections, that concluded on February 27.
In fact, soon after the ludhiana civic body polls, Jakhar camped in Delhi for the expansion, but returned empty handed as Rahul Gandhi first went abroad on a private visit and then engaged in the party’s plenary session.
The hopefuls are waiting with a bated breath for the expansion since November last year.
Taking over the state’s reigns in March 2017, Capt Amarinder had inducted top eight senior MlAs as his cabinet ministers, announcing that expansion will be done in the due course of time. Facing allegations of involvement in sand mining auctions, Rana Gurjeet Singh was forced to put in his papers taking the number of total unoccupied posts to nine.
“The meeting between the two gives a ray of hope that soon the decision of Cabinet expansion will be announced...But then something or the other happens and it was put on hold. We hope that this time, we will not be disappointed,” said a Congress MlA, requesting anonymity, who is positive to secure a berth in the state Cabinet.
Sources in the Congress informed The Pioneer that the names of senior MlAs Sukhjinder Randhawa (Dera Baba Nanak), Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi (Guru Har Sahai), Raj Kumar Verka (Amritsar West), and Sangat Singh Gilzian (Urmar), have found mention in the list.
Besides, induction of young faces, especially from Rahul brigade, is also expected. Among them are two-time MlA from Gidderbaha and Indian Youth Congress president Raja Amarinder Singh Warring and former MP and Sangrur MlA Vijay Inder Singla.
Along with filling up the vacant berths, there is also probability of replacing a few ministers and shifting departments.
It has been learnt that the performance of few ministers is under scanner, and the decision could be taken to replace them. “We have been receiving complaints against couple of ministers and their performance is being reviewed, and in case a better candidate is there, these ministers can be replaced,” Chief Minister’s close aide said.
The state Congress leadership has reportedly taken into consideration all aspects to strike a perfect balance amongst all castes and regions, gender and age, among other things.
Following Rana Gurjeet’s exit from the Cabinet, who represented Doaba region of the state in the Cabinet, the name of second time MlA and Olympian Pargat Singh is doing the rounds, while the name of three-time MlA Gilzian has almost been finalised.