M A I N   N E W S

21 ministers take oath today
Rana Sodhi is Political Adviser to CM
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 4
A three-tier Punjab Council of Ministers will take oath of office and secrecy at Punjab Raj Bhavan tomorrow at 11 am, sources in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee said today, maintaining that former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal would be one of the Cabinet Ministers in the new government.

Though the exact details of the composition of the new Council of Ministers were not known, it was likely to have as many as 11 Cabinet Ministers, eight Ministers of State and two Parliamentary Secretaries. The sources revealed that no first timer is being accommodated in the council.

Meanwhile, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, who won from the Guru Harsahai Assembly seat, has been appointed Political Adviser to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh. He is the second Adviser to the Chief Minister. Earlier, Mr Bharat Inder Singh Chahal was appointed Adviser to the Chief Minister.

Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, who has been a Congress activist for the past several years and a loyalist of the PPCC chief, was also in the race for a berth in the Council of Ministers. A keen sportsman and a sports organiser, he has represented the country in various international shooting meets.

Though a formal list cleared by the AICC chief was expected late tonight, certain changes have been made in the list submitted by the Chief Minister.

Among those who are certain to be included in the Council of Ministers as Cabinet Ministers are Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mr Lall Singh, Mr Kushal Behl, Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Mr Sardul Singh, Mr Ramesh Chander Dogra, Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar, Ch Jagjit Singh and Ch Santokh Singh while efforts were still being made to persuade Dr Kewal Krishan to be the Speaker of the 12th Punjab Vidhan Sabha. He is the seniormost member of the Punjab Congress Legislature Party. Mrs Bhattal has, however, expressed her reservations about joining the Council of Ministers.

Other senior members of the CLP would be adjusted as Ministers of State. Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, Mr Rakesh Pandey, Mr Ashwani Sekhri, Mr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, Dr Harbans Lal, Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Mr Raghunath Sahai Puri and Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa are the probable candidates.

The names of Mr Gurbinder Singh Atwal and Dr Mohinder Mr Kumar Rinwa are being considered for the position of Parliamentary Secretaries.

Contrary to initial expectations that the new Council of Ministers would be compact and representative, certain adjustments may be made in the second phase of expansion of the Council of Ministers.

Because of the financial crunch facing the state government and as a part of its austerity drive, the initial size of the new government was being restricted to 21 members.

The chances of some changes in the list cannot be ruled out as the last minute pulls and pressures may swing fortunes in favour of some and to dismay of others.

Meanwhile, senior party leaders, including the Treasurer of the AICC, Mr Moti Lal Vora, are expected to attend the oath taking ceremony of the Punjab Council of Ministers at Punjab Raj Bhavan tomorrow.

Mr Raghunandan Lal Bhatia, Ms Ambika Soni, Mr H.S. Hanspal and Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder are expected to be in the city for the oath taking ceremony.

Following is the list of probables:

Cabinet Ministers

Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhatal

Mr Lall Singh

Ch Jagjit Singh

Ch Santokh Singh

Mr Kushal Behl

Mr Ramesh Chander Dogra

Mr Sardul Singh

Mr Tej Parkash Singh

Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar

Mr Partap Singh Bajwa

Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang

Ministers of State

Mr A.S. Samra

Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee

Mr Ashwani Sekhri

Mr Rakesh Pandey

Mr Ramesh Dutt Sharma

Dr Harbans Lal

Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa

Mr Raghunath Sahai Puri

Parliamentary Secretaries

Mr Gurbinder Singh Atwal

Dr Mohinder Kumar Rinwa