Amarinder keeps home portfolio

Punjab’s new chief minister Amarinder Singh, who was sworn-in earlier yesterday, has kept the important home department with himself while Manpreet Singh Badal will be the new finance minister of the state.

Manpreet Badal, the estranged nephew of outgoing chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, will also handle the portfolios of planning and employment generation.

Punjab governor V.P. Singh Badnore, who allocated the portfolios to the nine ministers on the chief minister’s advice, allocated to former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu the charge of the local government and tourism departments.

Amarinder Singh will also handle general administration, personnel, home affairs and justice, vigilance and all other departments not assigned to any other minister, an official spokesperson said.

Brahm Mohindra will look after health and family welfare, research and medical education and parliamentary affairs.

Navjot Singh Sidhu will also handle cultural affairs, archives and museums.

Other ministers and their portfolios are: Sadhu Singh Dharamsot (forests, printing and stationery, welfare of SCs and BCs); Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa (rural development and panchayats and water supply and sanitation); Rana Gurjit Singh (irrigation and power); Charanjit Singh Channi (technical education and industrial training); Aruna Chaudhary, minister of state (independent charge), higher education and school education; and Razia Sultana, minister of state (independent charge), public works department, social security and development of women and children.