Five MLAs were inducted into the CM Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Cabinet on Monday, 4 July, in the first Cabinet expansion of the Aam Admi Party government since it came to power in the state in March 2022.
The oath of office was administered to the MLAs by Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Guru Nanak Dev Auditorium of the Raj Bhawan.
Four of the five MLAs inducted into the Cabinet are first-time legislators. Aman Arora is a two-time MLA and was elected from the Sunam seat.
Arora was the first to be inducted, followed by Inderbir Singh Nijjar, MLA of Amritsar South; Fauja Singh Sarari, MLA from Guru Har Sahai; Samana MLA Chetan Singh Jourmajra; and Anmol Gagan Mann, MLA from Kharar.
Including CM Mann, the current strength of the Punjab Cabinet has increased to 15 with the new inductions.
Why Has the Punjab Cabinet Been Expanded?
After winning the Punjab Assembly elections, the AAP formed a government in the state and appointed 10 ministers, besides Chief Minister Mann. But after the sacking of Health Minister Vijay Singla due to a corruption case in May, there were only nine ministers.
Earlier in the week, Mann paid a visit to Delhi CM and AAP president Arvind Kejriwal. There was speculation that he had come to discuss and finalise names for the Cabinet expansion. However, ANI reported that Mann had dismissed the speculations saying, "there was no discussion about Cabinet expansion in the meeting with Arvind Kejriwal, we will decide on it in Punjab."
This Cabinet expansion comes at a time when the AAP has lost the Sangrur Lok Sabha bypolls – which happens to be Mann’s turf. With civic elections also round the corner, the AAP might try to use the Cabinet expansion as a means of curbing any anger against it.
(With inputs from ANI.)
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