Mann government inducted AAP’s core worker in its cabinet
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
After the resignation of Fauja Singh Sarari, the cabinet berth in the Mann government had got vacant. To fill the position immediately, Mann government has selected one of its core worker, Dr Balbir Singh and inducted him as cabinet minister in the Punjab cabinet. He is considered close to the party high command and Punjab leadership, particularly chief minister Bhagwant Mann.
The Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Banwari Lal Purohit today administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr. Balbir Singh as Cabinet Minister of the state in a brief but impressive ceremony here at Punjab Raj Bhawan in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that with this the total strength of the Cabinet had increased to 15 including the Chief Minister.
Earlier, the Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad conducted the proceedings of the ceremony with the permission of the Governor. After being sworn in Dr. Balbir signed the oath, which was counter signed by the Governor.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister congratulated Dr Balbir for the new assignment and said that the new Minister has already been serving the masses with missionary zeal. He expressed hope that that the new minister will continue to serve the people with same passion and fervour. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is already according top priority to the Health department adding that a hardcore professional like Dr Balbir will further take the department to zenith.
Dr Balbir Singh also got the health, medical education ministry.
Dr Balbir Singh, an ophthalmologist by profession is a 66-year-old MLA from Patiala (rural) constituency, has been sworn in as the new cabinet minister. Dr Balbir Singh had defeated Congress candidate Mohit Mohindra son of senior congress leader Brahm Mohindra ,with 53,474 votes in the 2022 assembly elections.
Before entering politics, he retired as Associate Professor and is presently working as an Eye Surgeon at Patiala. He did his MBBS from Punjab University, Chandigarh in the year of 1979.
He also participated, at the young age, in JP Movement in 1974 and in 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement. Before 2014 Indian general election he joined Aam Aadmi Party.
Mann government inducted AAP’s core worker in its cabinet. He served as the caretaker Convener of Aam Aadmi Party of Punjab after Party’s National Convener Arvind Kejriwal’s apology from Bikram Singh Majithia. After the apology, both the Convener and Co-Convener of Party, Bhagwant Mann and Aman Arora respectively, resigned from their posts. Upon this, Balbir Singh was appointed the Co-convener and caretaker Convener of Party’s Punjab unit
Dr Balbir Singh is the third doctor in the Mann cabinet. Earlier, Dr Baljit Kaur and Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar were made ministers in the Punjab government. He will be second minister from Patiala in the Cabinet after Chetan Singh Jaurmajra.
By inducting Dr Balbir Singh in his cabinet, Punjab chief minister might invite salvo from the opposition. Dr Balbir Singh is no stranger to controversy as on May 23, a Rupnagar court held him and three others guilty in an 11-year-old assault case. Dr Balbir Singh, his son Rahul Saini, wife Rupinderjit Saini and aide Parminder Singh were booked under Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt ), 324 (causing hurt voluntarily to another with dangerous weapons), 325 (punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. However, the additional district and session judge stayed the conviction, and granted bail to all accused.
January 7,2023
