Continuing with his efforts to streamline the Government functioning after the dismal performance in the parliamentary polls, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has finally woken up to the need for filling up the Cabinet berths.
Two of the Cabinet seats were vacant for almost a year when Bibi Jagir Kaur and Tota Singh tendered their resignations after their conviction by the court of law in separate cases, the third was vacated just about a fortnight back after jails and Tourism Minister Swaran Singh Phillaur put in his papers following alleged involvement of his son in multi-crore drug racket.
The much-awaited Cabinet expansion would now take place on June 10. “Punjab Council of Ministers is being expanded. The three slots lying vacant for some time will be filled on Tuesday,” said Advisor to the Chief Minister (National Affairs and Media), Harcharan Bains, adding that the swearing-in is scheduled at the Punjab Raj Bhavan on June 10.
As the ministries currently lying vacant were from the Shiromani Akali Dal’s share, party’s legislators including Zira MlA Hari Singh Zira, Gurdaspur MlA Gurbachan Singh Babbehali, Chabbewal MlA Sohan Singh Thandal, Sham Chaurasi MlA Mohinder Kaur Josh, Ropar MlA Daljeet Singh Cheema are among the frontrunners.At present, the strength of the Cabinet is 16, including the Chief Minister and his Deputy Sukhbir Badal. Besides, the state has 20 chief parliamentary secretaries including Babbehali, Thandal and Josh.
The portfolios currently lying vacant are: agriculture — presently headed by Badal after Tota Singh’s resignation; Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Defence Services Welfare, and Removal of Grievances and Welfare of Pensioners — also currently headed by Badal after Jagir Kaur’s resign; and Jails, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Archives and Museums, Printing and Stationery — currently lying vacant.
The Cabinet expansion came after the SAD-BJP alliance failed to secure seven out of the total 13 parliamentary seats in the state. Despite bagging highest number of seats, the SAD-BJP alliance is not satisfied with its performance during the parliamentary polls considering the fact that the entire country was swept by the Modi wave, and its own government was in power in the State.
What is more, the Akali Dal, which has been in power since past seven years, has finished third in three constituencies — Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, and ludhiana.Giving sleepless nights to the SAD was its dwindling vote share that has come down from 34.73 per cent in 2012 assembly polls to 26.3 per cent, while its ally has improved its vote share, thanks to Modi wave, from 7.18 per cent to 8.7 per cent in 2014 lok Sabha elections.
Akali leadership is also not satisfied with the performance of its leaders of different ranks at the state level and district level, with their falling vote share as compared to the previous polls in the state.With the cabinet revamping already on Badal’s mind, sources maintained that the move is initiated to get rid of the dead woods from the council of ministers and also among the chief parliamentary secretaries.
Available information suggests that SAD leaders at the state headquarters and district level who has worked hard and contributed in a big way in the electoral battle are likely to be rewarded.Already, SAD is contemplating to overhaul the party by restructuring the organisation, and formulating new strategies in an attempt to counterbalance AAP’s growing influence, that has won four seats in Punjab, despite drawing a blank in the entire country.
SAD’s ally, the BJP, has also given indications that it is in favour of changing its Ministers.Keeping the cards close to his chest, Badal has, as of now, not disclosed as in who will find place in his cabinet. But, considering that his Cabinet is sans any female minister, induction of Mohinder Kaur Josh is most likely... Bibi Jagir Kaur was the lone Minister in Badal’s cabinet.
This will be the first expansion of the Badal government since it came to power for the second time on March 3, 2012. Earlier, SAD-BJP alliance was in power from 2007 to 2012.