Chandigarh: The border district of Gurdaspur
in Punjab has won a large representation in over
three-year-old Parkash Singh Badal Ministry, with the
induction of old Akali warhorse Capt Balbir Singh Bath in the
Council of Ministers here on Sunday.
With Bath, a sitting Akali MLA from Sri Hargobindpur,
getting a Cabinet berth, the total number of ministers in the
Badal Cabinet from Gurdaspur border district rose to five.
Bath was inducted in the Ministry as the post of a
Cabinet minister fell vacant around three months back, after
Badal's nephew and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was
sacked and later expelled from the party.
Bath was sworn in as Cabinet minister by Punjab Governor
Shivraj V Patil at a brief ceremony at the lawns of Raj Bhawan
here today.
Bath, a three-time legislator, later told reporters that
his priority would be to end unemployment, provide justice to
people and create a corruption-free society.
Besides Bath, the ministers from the Gurdaspur district
include Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal, Agriculture
Minister Sucha Singh Langha and Education Minister Sewa Singh
Sekhwan.
With the induction of 68-year-old Bath, the strength of
Badal Ministry has risen to 18, including the Chief Minister.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, January 16, 2011, 13:55