17 CPSes,one for every minister

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today administered the oath of office to three Akali MLAs as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries,bringing the number of CPSes to 17,the same as that of cabinet ministers besides the Chief Minister.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today administered the oath of office to three Akali MLAs as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries,bringing the number of CPSes to 17,the same as that of cabinet ministers besides the Chief Minister.

Harmeet Singh Sandhu,(Tarn Taran),Gurtej Singh Ghuriana (Balluana) and Inderbir Singh Bolaria,MLAs of Tarn Taran,Balluana and Amritsar South,were made CPSes in the departments of Agriculture,Irrigation,and Industries and Commerce. They will work with ministers Sucha Singh Langh (Agriculture),Janmeja Singh Sekhon (Irrigation) and Tikshan Sud (Industries).

Badal defended the decision to appoint so many CPSes,saying,They represent young blood and need training so that in future they can become ministers. There is nothing wrong in appointing a CPS; they are not ministers. There is no extra burden on the state exchequer by appointing them.

Story continues below this ad

Only one cabinet minister,Gulzar Singh Ranike (Animal Husbandry),attended the ceremony. Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia was present.

Harmit Singh Sandhus elevation as CPS means he vacates the position of chairman,District Planning Committee,Tarn Taran. Sandhu submitted his resignation to the Chief Minsiter and the post will now been given to Valtoha MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha.

Badal also nominated Vijay Danav and Raj Kumar Atikay as chairmen of the newly created Dalit Vikas Board and Safai Karamchari Welfare Board. Each board will have 11 members from the Dalit community. The appointments will be formally notified soon.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram