Punjab News: Possibility of reshuffle in Punjab cabinet

Punjab. Punjab: A meeting of AAP MLAs convened here tonight under the chairmanship of party’s national general secretary (organisation) and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak has laid the groundwork for the much-awaited reshuffle in the Punjab Cabinet. The 15 MLAs summoned for the meeting tonight include Gurpreet Singh Banwali, Devinder Singh Ladi Dhos, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Ashok Parashar Pappi, Daljit Singh Grewal Bhola, Virender Goyal and Ravjot Singh.

Amritsar Central MLA Ajay Gupta, who had raised his voice against illegal drug trade and deteriorating law and order in the state two days ago, was also summoned for the meeting.

He had refused to work until the ‘pride’ of party workers is restored by the leadership and they are given due respect in government offices. Today’s meeting is being seen as a precursor to a Cabinet reshuffle among the party leadership. At least five ministers, including two who were mired in controversy after allegations of moral turpitude were levelled against them, are expected to be replaced by the party high command. Some of the eight cabinet ministers, who could not ensure a lead for the party even in their constituencies during the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, are also likely to be replaced with new faces. The party had won just three of the 13 Lok Sabha seats and its vote share dropped from 42 per cent in the 2022 assembly polls to 26 per cent in the Lok Sabha polls. Officially, leaders said the meeting was called by Pathak to assess the party’s performance in the election. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is expected to leave for Delhi soon where final deliberations on the reshuffle are expected to take place. With one seat in the Punjab Council of Ministers falling vacant after Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer was elected as an MP and two other cabinet posts falling vacant, a reshuffle is expected anytime now.