Non-performers to be dropped

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

Following the ouster of Rana Gurjit Singh, the Congress is now likely to turn its attention towards weeding out “non-performing” ministers before the much-awaited Cabinet expansion.

“Perform or perish” is the message for state Congress leaders that emerged in the discussion among the top leadership today. The high command has asked the state unit to evaluate the performance of all departments vis-à-vis poll promises.

Keeping this in view, the impending Cabinet expansion could see major reshuffling of portfolios as two more ministers are likely to be dropped on account of performance. After the resignation by Rana Gurjit, nine Cabinet berths are vacant. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has indicated that the new appointments would be a mix of youth and talent, with merit key criteria. At least two fresh faces from the Rahul Gandhi brigade are expected to be inducted in the Cabinet.

Putting to rest speculation over allocating the portfolios of Power and Irrigation to two senior ministers, Amarinder, while forwarding Rana’s resignation to Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore, has retained the two departments with himself. Earlier in the day, there were reports of hectic lobbying among Rana’s Cabinet colleagues to grab the two lucrative portfolios.

A senior leader said as the CM had suffered two major setbacks with the exit of Rana Gurjit and Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, he would not want any fresh controversy and keep the two departments with him for the time being.