Rana Gurjit out, portfolios with CM till cabinet expansion
Friday, 19/01/2018
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
CHANDIGARH: The much-controversial stint of Rana Gurjit Singh as Punjab’s power and irrigation minister has ended in just 10 months of the Congress government.
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh told reporters after his meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi on Thursday that Rana’s resignation has been accepted.
It was the first issue the CM brought on the table in the meeting, which was also attended by Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs, Asha Kumari, and Harish Chaudhary.
“Rahul has made his stand on corruption clear. The party cannot be even perceived to be overlooking it,” Jakhar said after the meeting.
Rana’s fate had been sealed even before the meeting. But the CM chose not to take a call on it for two weeks after Rana submitted his resignation (on January 4) to show he stood by his confidant. On the other hand, by getting Rahul’s stamp on it, the party has also tried to reinforce the authority of its new chief.
Both his portfolios of power and irrigation have been taken over by the CM, who said the cabinet expansion would be done after the Ludhiana municipal council elections.
“The new ministers will be a mix of youth and experience, with merit as the only criteria,” he said.
The meeting also discussed party’s prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the CM said the state unit of the Congress will be restructured soon in view of it.
