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Vijaya Pushkarna
Vijaya Pushkarna

PUNJAB

Captain's swearing-in to be a low-key affair

PTI3_11_2017_000229B PPCC president Captain Amarinder Singh being offered sweets by his relatives after the party's thumping win in Punjab Assembly elections | PTI

Despite being the first big victory for the Congress party anywhere in the country in the last few years, Captain Amarinder Singh's swearing-in as chief minister of Punjab on Thursday will be stripped of razzmatazz. The low-key event is in view of his belief that anything grand will be inappropriate given the empty coffers he will inherit.

This will be Singh's second term as chief minister of the state. Ten others, including Navjot Singh Sidhu, are also expected to be sworn in. He has indicated that the cabinet expansion later will give many others a chance and a role to play in governance. The party high command is believed to have given Amarinder a free hand in his cabinet formation.

The oath taking will be at the Punjab Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh. The Akali leadership had preferred to have a huge crowd and take oath at the Punjab Cricket Stadium in adjoining Mohali, which falls in the state.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Asha Kumari, who was the in-charge of Punjab, and senior party leader Ambika Soni are expected to attend the event. Several other senior party leaders and chief ministers in the six Congress ruled states  have also been invited.

The Aam Aadmi Party has named H.S. Phoolka the leader of the legislature party. By virtue of this, Phoolka will be the Leader of the Opposition. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who joined the AAP from Congress, will be the party's new whip.

Though the Shiromani Akali Dal has yet to make an announcement, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is expected to be named leader of the SAD legislature party, and Sukhbir Badal, the party whip.

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