AMARINDER SINGH

Punjab cabinet expansion move reveals cracks in Congress unit

Amarinder Singh Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at a government function | Amarinder Singh's Twitter handle

Seniority, backwardness and supreme sacrifice of the family were being cited as reasons why legislators should be made cabinet ministers, hours before Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is to expand his cabinet on Saturday evening. The cracks in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee are widening, and in public at that.

Ironically, the names of legislators who will be sworn in was finalised at a meeting between Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the chief minister; and those who felt they had 'chances' but don't see themselves in the list now, are blaming the party high command.

While there has always been disappointment among those who do not get a ministerial berth, this time, legislators are giving vent to their frustration.

Among those who are upset at their exclusion is Gurkirat Singh, MLA from Khanna, and grandson of former chief minister Beant Singh who was assassinated by terrorists.

Gurkirat said the party high command in Delhi was to blame for him not being made a minister. "I accept the decision," he said, but pointed out that he belonged to a family of "traditional Congressmen, leaders who have continuously won elections for the party. He felt that while his grandfather had brought back peace to Punjab, shaped new development and made the supreme sacrifice for the state, now the family's claim to leadership was brushed aside.

Sangat Singh Gilzian, MLA from Urmur constituency in Hoshiarpur district, quit his post in the AICC and as vice president of the PPCC, saying the chief minister was not giving representation to backward classes in the cabinet. Dramatically enough, he announced his resignation and his anguish over being denied a cabinet berth through a video message on social media. While he has been an MLA three times, Gilzian felt his seniority was being ignored.

Navtej Cheema, legislator from Sultanpur Lodhi, did not cite specific reasons on why he should have been there, but felt hurt at not being called to take oath. He intended to take up the matter with the chief minister.