MOHALI – Punjab Governor Shivraj V Patil on Wednesday administered the oath of office and secrecy to Parkash Singh Badal as chief minister of the state for the record fifth time at Chappar Chiri, the place where Sikhs led by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur defeated the Mughals in 1710.
Badal who is now 84 became the chief minister of Punjab for the first time in 1970 when he was barely 43.
Later, on the recommendation of Badal, the Punjab Governor sworn in Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, (49) two time MLA, as deputy chief minister and 16 SAD and BJP leaders as cabinet rank ministers.
From the Akalis, six time MLA and a dalit leader Sarwan Singh Phillaur makes it to the cabinet. Badal’s son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, a three time MLA from Patti constituency, and Sukhbir’s brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia two time MLA from Majithia were also sworn in as the cabinet ministers.
Four time MLA from Shahkot, Ajit Singh Kohar, Gulzar Singh Ranike, son of senior Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Tota Singh, former SGPC, president, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Sikander Singh Maluka and Surjit Singh Rakhra were also sworn in as cabinet ministers.
From the BJP Bhagat Chunni Lal (81) a three time MLA from Jalandhar (south) whom the state BJP unit has also elected as the CLP leader of the party, Anil Joshi, Surjit Kumar Jyani were also sworn in as cabinet ministers.
All cabinet ministers including the chief minister took the oath in Punjabi.
The SAD-BJP alliance got absolute majority in the state polls to the 117-member state assembly winning 68 seats whereas the opposition Congress bagged only 46 seats.
