Chandigarh: The reshuffle of the Punjab cabinet has been postponed for about a week due to the absence of Governor Gulab Chand Kataria from Chandigarh. Sources said the governor is on his way to his hometown, Udaipur, and will remain out of station until July 2.
The swearing-in of new ministers cannot take place in his absence, as the governor is required to administer the oath during the cabinet expansion.
The Punjab government had planned to expand the cabinet this week. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had recently indicated that the expansion would take place within two to four days and had confirmed that Sanjeev Arora would be made a minister. Mann shared this information after a meeting with the governor.
Sanjeev Arora, the newly elected MLA from Ludhiana West, is set to be inducted into the cabinet. During the election campaign, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had promised to appoint Arora as a minister. Discussions are also underway regarding the inclusion of other leaders in the cabinet and the possible removal of some ministers. A reshuffle of ministerial portfolios is also expected.
While the cabinet expansion has been delayed, Sanjeev Arora will take oath as an MLA on Saturday at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha complex. Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwa will administer the oath to the newly elected MLA.
