Chandigarh, September 23, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
Five MLAs of the ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ were Monday sworn in as Cabinet Ministers in the Government led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath of office to newly inducted ministers.
The new ministers who took oath today are Hardeep Singh Mundian (MLA Sahnewal), Barinder Kumar Goel (MLA Lehra), Tarunpreet Singh Sond (MLA Khanna), Dr. Ravjot Singh (MLA Sham Chaurasi) and Mohinder Bhagat (Jalandhar West).
Three MLAs from Malwa and two from Doaba were inducted into the Cabinet.
Hardeep Singh Mundian, Barinder Kumar Goyal and Tarunpreet Singh Saund come from Malwa while Dr. Ravjot Siongh and Mahinder Bhagat belong to Doaba.
The simple swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan took place in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and several other dignitaries. The Chief Secretary Anurag Verma conducted the proceedings of the swearing-in ceremony.
Apart from the Chief Minister, Legislative Assembly Speaker Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhawan, Lok Sabha Member from Anandpur Sahib Mr. Malwinder Singh Kang, Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora, Dr. Baljeet Kaur, Dr. Balbir Singh, Lal Chand Kataruchakk, Harbhajan Singh ETO and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, some MLAs, and other leaders were present during the swearing-in ceremony.
Senior officers from civil and police administration and family members of the newly inducted ministers also attended the event.
The party had only yesterday sought and accepted the resignations of four ministers of the state. They included Mr. Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Mrs. Anmol Gagan Mann, Mr. Chetan Singh Jaudamajra, and Mr. Balkar Singh.
Earlier, the state cabinet included 15 ministers whose number has now grown to 16.
New Cabinet Minister Mr. Hardeep Singh Mundian is a first-time MLA from Sahnewal.
Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal is a first time MLA from Lehragaga. He reached the Vidhan Sabha in 2022 by defeating Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhathal and Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa.
Mr. Tarunpreet Singh Saund, a businessman by profession, is also the first-time MLA from the Khanna constituency and also happens to be the vice-president of Aam Aadmi Party Punjab.
Dr. Ravjot Singh, a doctor by profession, is a first-time MLA from Sham Churasi who has now been inducted as a Cabinet Minister.
Mr. Mahendra Bhagat is also a first-time MLA. He is the son of former minister Bhagat Chunni Lal, who is associated with the BJP. Mohinder Bhagat left the BJP and joined AAP during the Lok Sabha elections.
After the resignation of Sheetal Angural by the party, he was fielded to contest a bye-election against Shital Angural from Jalandhar West constituency where he emerged victorious. Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann inducted him into his Cabinet to honor his promise to Mohinder Bhagat and the people of the constituency.
