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Bhattal redesignated as Deputy CM
Chandigarh, Jan 20: Senior Congress leader and Punjab`s agriculture minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who recently led a revolt against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Demanding change in leadership, was today redesignated as deputy chief minister, official sources said here.
Chandigarh, Jan 20: Senior Congress leader and Punjab's agriculture minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who recently led a revolt against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Demanding change in leadership, was today redesignated as deputy chief minister, official sources said here.
Governor O P Verma redesignated Bhattal on the recommendation of the Chief Minister with immediate effect, sources said.
The Congress high command had announced the redesignation of Bhattal as part of the package following a series of meetings with the Bhattal and Amarinder Singh factions after the former organised a sit-in at Delhi leading to a virtual split in the 64-member Congress Legislature Party.
Bhattal's redesignation has come a few hours before she and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh were scheduled to go to Delhi to meet the party high command.
Bhattal has become deputy chief minister in a repeat of events in 1996 after the assassination of then chief minister Beant Singh when she led a revolt against Beant's successor Harcharan Singh Brar.
In 1996 also she had first become deputy chief minister after sitting in at Delhi for a number of days to ultimately take over as chief minister from Brar on November 21.
As part of the present formula to resolve the crisis media advisor to the chief minister B I S Chahal proceeded on leave. While principal secretary S K Sinha was removed from his post, chief director vigilance bureau A P Pandey had to make an unceremonious exit after he referred to police a complaint of alleged corruption against Bhattal's associate and transport minister Tej Prakash Singh, son of Beant Singh.
Besides the ministry's expansion, even though the present 26-member council of ministers is in excess in view of the 15 per cent ceiling of the strength of the legislature (111 member state assembly) as stipulated in recent anti-defection act, some other changes in the state Congress are expected.
Bhattal's becoming deputy chief minister has only created differences in her group as she alone has gained due to the recent decision of the high command.
Governor O P Verma redesignated Bhattal on the recommendation of the Chief Minister with immediate effect, sources said.
The Congress high command had announced the redesignation of Bhattal as part of the package following a series of meetings with the Bhattal and Amarinder Singh factions after the former organised a sit-in at Delhi leading to a virtual split in the 64-member Congress Legislature Party.
Bhattal's redesignation has come a few hours before she and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh were scheduled to go to Delhi to meet the party high command.
Bhattal has become deputy chief minister in a repeat of events in 1996 after the assassination of then chief minister Beant Singh when she led a revolt against Beant's successor Harcharan Singh Brar.
In 1996 also she had first become deputy chief minister after sitting in at Delhi for a number of days to ultimately take over as chief minister from Brar on November 21.
As part of the present formula to resolve the crisis media advisor to the chief minister B I S Chahal proceeded on leave. While principal secretary S K Sinha was removed from his post, chief director vigilance bureau A P Pandey had to make an unceremonious exit after he referred to police a complaint of alleged corruption against Bhattal's associate and transport minister Tej Prakash Singh, son of Beant Singh.
Besides the ministry's expansion, even though the present 26-member council of ministers is in excess in view of the 15 per cent ceiling of the strength of the legislature (111 member state assembly) as stipulated in recent anti-defection act, some other changes in the state Congress are expected.
Bhattal's becoming deputy chief minister has only created differences in her group as she alone has gained due to the recent decision of the high command.
Bureau Report