All four BJP ministers get new portflios

Forest and wildlife preservation and labour minister Surjit Kumar Jiyani has been given health and family welfare and social security and development of women and children.

The move comes in wake of a meeting between Badal and national BJP president Rajnath Singh at the former’s residence on Monday evening. Singh met Badal following the meeting of the core committee of the state BJP.

According to sources,the proposal to change the portfolios was discussed with state BJP’s top leaders. It was suggested that the charges of all the ministers be changed to improve their performance.

Joshi was listed as the most active of the four BJP ministers. It was decided that he be given the charge of the local bodies. It was felt that with Bhagat at the helm of affairs as the local bodies minister,the performance of municipal bodies had witnessed a downturn. Since the BJP has its primary vote bank in urban areas,the focus for the next year till the Lok Sabha elections will be on improving the working of municipal bodies.

Party sources said the health portfolio has been changed following certain in house information received by the leaders on the functioning of Mittal.

The change in the portfolios also brings to an end the possibility of changing the BJP ministers,at least for the time being.

Though former minister Manoranjan Kalia and former Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Kumar were in line to be inducted in the cabinet,it seems they will have to wait till the Lok Sabha elections for any such possibility.