Bath fills Cabinet void left by Manpreet Badal

Capt Balbir Singh Bath was sworn in as minister,bringing up the Punjab Cabinet to full strength again.

Given Defence Services Welfare,Legal and Legislative Affairs and NRI Affairs

Capt Balbir Singh Bath was today sworn in as minister,bringing up the Punjab Cabinet to full strength again. One ministerial berth had been vacant ever since Manpreet Singh Badal stepped down as finance minister. Capt Bath has been given the Defence Services Welfare,Legal and Legislative Affairs and NRI Affairs portfolio.

With Bath,three-time MLA from Sri Hargobindpur Sahib in Gurdaspur district,being sworn in,the district now has the highest representation in the Cabinet with four ministers. The other three leaders from Gurdaspur are Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah,Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan,both of Akali Dal,and Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal of BJP. Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon is also from Gurdaspur district.

Bath was sworn in by Punjab Governor Shivraj V Patil. Interestingly,at todays swearing in,only six Cabinet ministers,including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,were present. The others were Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal,Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan,Finance Minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur,Revenue Minister Ajit Singh Kohar,Food and Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Kairon and Punjab Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon. No minister from BJP was present.

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