Chandigarh:
With around eight months left for Assembly elections in Punjab, the Parkash Singh Badal led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP ministry in the state will be expanded on Sunday to fill the vacancies caused by the resignation of all the five BJP Cabinet ministers in the wake of their alleged involvement in a Rs 1.50 crore-graft case.
Though BJP has officially not announced any name for induction as ministers to fill the vacancies caused due to the resignation of Manoranjan Kalia (Local Bodies and Industries), Tikshan Sud (Parliamentary Affairs), Laxmi Kanta Chawla (Health and Family Welfare), Mohan Lal (Transport) and Swarna Ram (Technical Education).
Two Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) Sukhpal Singh Nanu and Arunesh Shakir also resigned along with the five ministers at the asking of the BJP central leadership early this week.
Following the resignations, the strength of the Council of Ministers was reduced to 12, including the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.
The strength of CPS, who hold rank equivalent to that of ministers, was reduced to 10.
BJP sources said two ministers Sud and Chawla, who resigned on Thursday, are expected to be re-nominated for ministerial posts. Shakir, who resigned as CPS and two others - Deputy Speaker Satpal Gosain and a former minister Surjeet Kumar Jiyani - are expected to make it to the state Cabinet.
The party would also propose four names for appointment as CPS against its share, the sources said adding BJP has a share of five cabinet ministers and four CPSs.
The party would soon name its nominee for the post of Deputy Speaker as the state assembly is not scheduled to meet in the near future, the sources said.
Though BJP has officially not announced any name for induction as ministers to fill the vacancies caused due to the resignation of Manoranjan Kalia (Local Bodies and Industries), Tikshan Sud (Parliamentary Affairs), Laxmi Kanta Chawla (Health and Family Welfare), Mohan Lal (Transport) and Swarna Ram (Technical Education).
Two Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) Sukhpal Singh Nanu and Arunesh Shakir also resigned along with the five ministers at the asking of the BJP central leadership early this week.
Following the resignations, the strength of the Council of Ministers was reduced to 12, including the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.
The strength of CPS, who hold rank equivalent to that of ministers, was reduced to 10.
BJP sources said two ministers Sud and Chawla, who resigned on Thursday, are expected to be re-nominated for ministerial posts. Shakir, who resigned as CPS and two others - Deputy Speaker Satpal Gosain and a former minister Surjeet Kumar Jiyani - are expected to make it to the state Cabinet.
The party would also propose four names for appointment as CPS against its share, the sources said adding BJP has a share of five cabinet ministers and four CPSs.
The party would soon name its nominee for the post of Deputy Speaker as the state assembly is not scheduled to meet in the near future, the sources said.
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