Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh rubbishes reports of Cabinet reshuffle

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2

A day ahead of the one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to mark the 400th “Parkash Purb” of Guru Teg Bahadur, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today dismissed reports about any Cabinet reshuffle in the offing.

“There is no question of dropping or retaining any ministers. Any changes in the Cabinet will happen only at an appropriate time after due consultation,” the Chief Minister said.

The move is also being seen as a message to dissident ministers — Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi — and three party legislators considered to be close to Pradesh Congress Committee president Navjot Singh Sidhu, who have called for Captain Amarinder's removal as the Chief Minister.

Whip issued to Congress MLAs

• The Chief Whip of the Congress Legislature Party MLA Hardial Singh Kamboj on Thurday directed all party MLAs to be present in the House during Friday's one-day special session
• Reacting to speculation of some dissident MLAs planning to move a resolution against the central farm laws and power purchase agreements, sources said a resolution could not be moved in the special session
• It can be moved only in a regular session to be held after a gap of about 10 days

“The Chief Minister’s clarification on the Cabinet reshuffle aims to address concerns of the dissident ministers who feared that they would be targeted for speaking against him,” said a senior party leader.

AICC general secretary and party’s Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat also said, “The Cabinet rejig was not part of the agenda at the meeting on Wednesday with the Chief Minister.”