15 Punjab Ministers Sworn In

From Our Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, June 23

With the swearing-in of 15 new Ministers here today, Punjab will have a 16-member Akali-Janata coalition Government, led by Mr. Prakash Singh Badal.

The Akali Dal now has nine Cabinet-rank Ministers, including the Chief Minister, and two Ministers of State. The Janta Party has four Cabinet-rank Ministers and one Minister of State.

Click here for a larger view of The Tribune Page 1 published on June 23, 1977

The new Akali Ministers are: Mr Atma Singh, Mr. Balwant Singh, Mr. Jaswinder Singh Brar, Mr. Jiwan Singh Umranangal, Mr. Randhir Singh Cheema, Mr. Sukhjinder Singh, Mrs. Satwant Kaur Sandhu and Mr. Balwinder Singh. Two Akali Ministers of State are: Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Mr. Dalip Singh Talwandi.

Part VI Election series :  Punjab Assembly Elections — 1977

• Anti-Emergency wave drowns Congress
• Badal Sworn In As Chief Minister
• 15 Punjab Ministers Sworn In
• PLUMS OF OFFICE-Editorial on June 28, 1977
• Haryana, Punjab to go to polls on June 12
• Zail Singh not to contest
• Mrs. Gandhi Not to Go Campaigning
• Ignoring Of Women In Punjab List Regrettable -CHANDRA SHEKHAR
• Punjab To Have Over 9,200 Polling Stations
• Akali Bid to win over Independents
• Results on June 14
• Polling In Low Key In Punjab
• Punjab goes to poll today
• Badal Outlines Austerity Steps
• Akalis On Verge Of Absolute Majority

The Janata Party is represented by four Ministers, namely, Mr. Balramji Das Tandon, Mr. Hit Abhilashi, Mr. Harbhajan Singh and Mr. Des Raj. Mr. Dharam Paul is its only Minister of State.

It was the largest gathering ever at a swearing-in ceremony on the lawns of "Punjab Raj Bhavan" when Mr. M.M. Chaudhury, Governor of Punjab, administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new Ministers. Supporters of the two parties to the coalition Government continued to shout slogans for nearly 40 minutes while the would-be Ministers went up the dais one after the other. One could see a large number of blue and red turbans, and many well-dressed women.

Most Ministers took the oath in Punjabi. The three exceptions were Mr. Hit Abhilashi and Mr. Dharm Paul (both Hindi) and Mr. Des Raj (English). Mr. Dalip Singh Talwandi and Mr. Umranangal are the two oldest members of the Ministry, while Mr. Dharm Pal, who defeated Mr. Gurmail Singh, former Education Minister, is the youngest.