Hectic lobbying on as Punjab power, irrigation portfolios up for grabs

Rajmeet singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

Within hours of acceptance of resignation by Power and Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjit Singh, hectic lobbying began among Rana’s cabinet colleagues to grab the two lucrative portfolios.

As Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has hinted at cabinet expansion after the Ludhiana MC polls, at least two senior cabinet ministers are hopeful of taking the departments of power and irrigation. 

Though there is no official confirmation so far, sources said the portfolio of Power could be allocated to Brahm Mohindra, in addition to the Health Department being currently looked after by him. Rural Development Minister Tripat Rajinder Bajwa could get the Irrigation department. 

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Some of senior MLAs and two Cabinet ministers have met Rahul Gandhi over the past few days. The visit was described as a courtesy call. 

A senior political leader said as the CM had suffered two major setbacks as his two close associates--Rana Gurjit and Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar--have resigned, he might avoid a fresh controversy by retaining the two departments with him for the time being.

A crucial meeting to review the situation after the political and administrative crisis has been called by the CM at Chandigarh on Thursday evening once he returned from Delhi.

The impending cabinet expansion after the Ludhiana MC polls could see a major reshuffle as another minister could be dropped on the basis of performance. After Rana’s resignation, nine cabinet berths are vacant.

Sources said at least two ministers of state from the Rahul Gandhi brigade would make it to the restructured cabinet as and when it took place.