Chandigarh, June 10
Under pressure to allocate important departments following induction of three Cabinet ministers today, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal remained silent on portfolios for the new entrants to his Cabinet.

Chief Minister’s media adviser Harcharan Bains said, “Details of the ministerial allocation were under consideration and will be announced shortly”. Sources said a cross-section of party leaders predict a major reshuffle. For instance, a change in the education department was expected as Sikander Singh Maluka wanted to be shifted after reports of scams in his department surfaced last year. Newly inducted Cabinet minister, Tota Singh, too, is said to have communicated his aversion to the Education Ministry because of a major scam during his earlier stint.

Sources said the CM might offer important ministries to MLAs who were “outsiders”. Badal and Majithia-Kairon families hold 32 out of 55 ministries. The SAD leadership is aware that voices of dissent are becoming stronger. A case in point is Hari Singh Zira and his son, Avtar Singh, who resigned from party posts, complaining that they were being left out of the Cabinet despite years of service to the party. Sources said some ministers want important departments such as agriculture, housing and urban development, excise and taxation, cooperation and power.

A party leader said: “Party workers have indeed talked about the fact that the CM and his son share a bulk of key portfolios.” The CM and the Deputy CM share, among others, important portfolios of agriculture, housing and urban development, excise and taxation and investment promotion.

Tota Singh is learnt to have shown his interest in taking over agriculture department which is currently with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal himself, who has keen interest in the subject.

The newly inducted Cabinet minister, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, is learnt to have communicated his availability for any department that was allocated to him. Reliable sources said he was in race as an education minister.