Capt starts second innings with team of 9

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 16

Capt Amarinder Singh took oath as Punjab’s 26th Chief Minister at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhawan here today. Seven MLAs were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers and two as Ministers of State with Independent charge. 

It will be Capt Amarinder’s second stint as CM, having headed a Congress government in 2002-07. The first Cabinet meeting is scheduled for March 18. The CM assured to set up a Special Task Force to eliminate drugs as one of the first steps to be taken.

Edit: Capt has team in place

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh were among those who attended the ceremony. Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Sachin Pilot, Rajiv Shukla and Raj Babbar too were present. Security personnel had a tough time tackling a stream of Congress leaders trying to get through the security cordon.

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With five-time MLA Brahm Mohindra placed at number two and Navjot Singh Sidhu at number three in the ministry, ahead of Manpreet Singh Badal, all speculation on Sidhu being given the post of Deputy CM has been put to rest, at least for the time being. 

Patiala seems to have got a lion’s share with the CM and three of his ministers —Mohindra, Sidhu and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot (Nabha) — hailing from the district.

Sources said Capt Amarinder had a word with Rahul on portfolios. Sidhu was reportedly keen on getting Excise and Taxation, but the CM chose to keep the portfolio with himself.

The CM, accompanied by ministers, later took charge at the Secretariat amid a multi-faith prayer ceremony.