CHANDIGARH (TIP): Capt Amarinder Singh was on March 16 sworn-in, at a simple ceremony, as the Punjab chief minister for the second time with nine ministers, including Navjot Singh Sidhu also taking the oath. Earlier, he had led the Congress government from 2002 to 2007.
Navjot Sidhu, the cricketer-turned politician, was second among the list of nine ministers to be sworn in. Brahm Mohindra was sworn in as cabinet minister right after Amarinder.
Two ministers of State — both women — were sworn in at the ceremony attended among others by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The ceremony was held at the Raj Bhawan here and the oath was administered by governor VP Singh Badnore.
Sporting a black sleeveless jacket adorned with army medals, Amarinder took the oath in English.
Besides Sidhu those sworn in were Manpreet Singh Badal, estranged nephew of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Rana Gurjit Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi.
Two women MLAs Aruna Chaudhary and Razia Sultana were sworn in as Ministers of State (Independent Charge).
The Council of Ministers has representation from different castes, regions and religious faiths.
While Mohindra, the senior-most minister after Amarinder, is a Hindu face in the cabinet hailing from the CM’s home district Patiala, the rest of the cabinet ministers are Sikhs which include Charanjit Singh Channi and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, both from the Dalit community.