In a significant reshuffle of the Punjab Cabinet, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inducted five new ministers into his government on Monday. The newly appointed ministers include Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs Hardeep Singh Mundian, Barinder Kumar Goyal, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Mahinder Bhagat, and Ravjot Singh. The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Katariya at the Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh.
This reshuffle comes shortly after Mann’s decision to remove his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Onkar Singh from his post, signaling a broader change within the state’s administration.
Ministers Resigning Ahead of Induction
A day before the induction, four Punjab Cabinet ministers resigned from their positions, leaving vacancies for the newly appointed members. Those who resigned include:
- Brahm Shankar Jimpa – Minister for Water Supply, Sanitation, Revenue, and Disaster Management.
- Chetan Singh Jodamajra – Minister for Information and Public Relations, Mining, and Geology.
- Anmol Gagan Mann – Minister for Tourism.
- Balkar Singh – Minister for Local Bodies.
Meet the New Ministers
Hardeep Singh Mundian: Representing the Sahnewal Assembly constituency, Mundian emerged victorious in the 2022 assembly elections on an AAP ticket, defeating Congress candidate Vikram Bajwa, son-in-law of former Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
Mahinder Bhagat: A recent AAP MLA from Jalandhar West, Bhagat secured a decisive victory over BJP candidate Sheetal Angural by a margin of 37,325 votes in the July 2023 polls.
Barinder Goyal: A seasoned lawyer, Goyal previously contested the Lehragaga Assembly seat in 1992 on a BJP ticket but finished second. After joining AAP in 2022, he contested the same seat and triumphed over five-time SAD MLA Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
Tarunpreet Singh Sondh: Sondh is the vice president of AAP’s Punjab state unit. He was elected from the Khanna constituency in the 2022 elections, defeating SAD’s Jasdeep Kaur Yadu by a margin of over 35,000 votes.
Ravjot Singh: A doctor by profession, Ravjot began his political journey with AAP in 2014. After narrowly losing in the 2017 Assembly elections, he secured victory in 2022 from the Sham Chaurasi seat, defeating Congress’ Pawan Adia by over 21,000 votes.
Aiming for Political Stability
This reshuffle marks the Mann government’s efforts to bring fresh faces into the Cabinet and strengthen its governance, particularly after facing opposition and criticism over various issues. With five new ministers, the Punjab government aims to steer the administration towards more efficient governance and implementation of its promises.
The induction of these leaders underscores AAP’s strategic expansion and a bid to maintain its hold on Punjab, as the party looks to reinforce its grassroots appeal and improve its governance record.
