Months after making him No. 3 in pecking order, Mann divests Aman Arora of key portfolios

He has handed over information and public relations to Chetan Singh Jouramajra, who was earlier divested of health portfolio after he was accused of misbehaving with former VC of Baba Farid University of Health Science, Faridkot Dr Raj Bahadur.

Arora has been given lesser significant departments of governance reforms and grievances redressal. The reshuffle of departments has taken place after the government recently transferred principal secretary of IPR Rahul Bhandari also out of the department and handed over charge to MS Jaggi. Arora is now left with new and renewable energy sources, printing and stationery, employment generation and training.

While a functionary termed it as “routine” reshuffle, sources said that it was done amid a controversy over releasing money for advertisements. Earlier also, the government had removed IAS officer Ajoy Sharma for not agreeing to sign orders of advertisements for Aam Aadmi Clinics as Health Secretary. The post of Financial Commissioner (Taxation) was also taken away from him. He has still not be given a posting.

It is learnt that a battle of sorts has been on between the public relations department and other departments over the issue of advertisements. The public relations department, headed by Arora has been wanting the departments concerned to release orders about advertisements instead of leaving all this on PR department.

The governance reforms department was earlier with Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and grievances redressal was with Anmol Gagan Mann.

Transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has been given food processing after taking it from Jouramajra.

Arora is a two-time MLA, who won from Sunam constituency with the fattest margin in the 2022 Assembly polls. He was ignored when Mann inducted ministers in his Cabinet. Later, he was inducted during expansion at number 10. Subsequently, he was moved to number three slot.

In January, senior AAP leader and Patiala Rural MLA Dr Balbir Singh had been sworn-in as the new cabinet minister, shortly after Fauja Singh Sarari tendered his resignation as minister over an audio clip in which he allegedly discussed ways to “trap” some contractors in order to “extort” money.In July 2022, the Bhagwant Mann government had carried out its first cabinet expansion inducting five party legislators, including Sarari. After that, the strength of the state cabinet had reached 15, including the chief minister. There are 18 berths in the Punjab cabinet, including the chief minister.