Bolaria shown door; seven new faces including Pargat inducted

Wednesday, 27/04/2016

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=155482&boxid=63170&uid=&dat=2016-04-27

Chandigarh : Amritsar-South MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria was on Tuesday dropped, while Punjab Governor Prof Kaptan Singh Solanki on the recommendation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal gave his approval for the induction of seven new MLAs as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs).

Of them, five are from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and two from the BJP. The lucky Akali MLAs are Gurtej Singh Ghuriana (Balluana), Manjit Singh Mianwind (Baba Bakala), Darshan Singh Shivalik (Gill), Gurpartap Singh Wadala (Nakodar) and former Indian hockey captain and MLA Pargat Singh (Jalandhar Cantonment). The two BJP MLAs, who have been taken on board, are Sukhjeet Kaur Shahi (Dasuya) and Seema Kumari (Bhoa). With the seven new appointments, the number of CPSs goes up to 25 comprising 20 from the SAD and seven from the saffron party. The inflated list has come with different reactions, where the opposition has condemned the SAD-BJP government of putting “unwarranted” burden on the state exchequer.

“According to the Constitution, the total number of ministers in the Vidhan Sabha can’t exceed more than 15 per cent of its total strength. This jumbo-sized team of CPS will also put extra financial burden on the already ailing state economy,” said Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh.

Captain, while lashing out at Chief Minister Badal, accused him of ‘blatantly circumventing the Constitution’ by appointing so many CPS when his term was about to end in the next few months. This was Badal’s last-minute effort to placate his ambitious MLAs, added Captain. Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi also came out with sharp reaction. Terming the move an unconstitutional exercise, Channi said: “It is desperate effort of SAD-BJP government to keep their flock together.”

Last year the Akali MLA Bolaria had raised a banner of revolt opposing the state government’s proposal to set up a waste plant in his constituency. He was also noticed airing his annoyance at different platforms. Also pertinent to mention is the fact that Bolaria had assumed charge as YAD chief (Majha) amid fanfare with then YAD president Bikram Singh Majithia himself leading the road show in Amritsar. However, a year later, Bolaria was removed from the post following his differences with SAD leaders.

Bolaria, however, claimed that he had no immediate plans to quit the SAD, though there was speculation that he could join the Congress.