maharaja and his navratnas
CHARANJIT CHANNI
He was downsized as a cabinet minister and was allotted the portfolio of technical education. Has a penchant for making news and has taken on V-Cs of technical universities. He made the assembly pass the amendment bill on appointment of varsity heads. He tries to make a point of order during assembly debates, never mind what he says.
ARUNA CHAUDHARY
She courted controversy soon after becoming the education minister as her husband tried controlling the department’s functioning. Poor results in Classes 10 and 12 state board exams brought her department into focus again. With the CM wanting to improve the education system, she has an important role to play.
SADHU SINGH DHARAMSOT
He is the invisible minister in the cabinet. The only time he made news was when a video of him rebuking a school principal went viral, forcing the CM to preach humility to his ministers. He heads the department of scheduled caste welfare and is getting to know it through transfers and postings. Yet to make his presence felt in assembly.
TRIPT RAJINDER SINGH BAJWA
In charge of the rural development and panchayats departments, he keeps a low profile. He fits best into Amarinder’s scheme of things as he works effectively minus controversies. He unearthed irregularities in development works carried out during the previous government. A proactive approach is suggested for him.
CAPT AMARINDER SINGH
The two-time chief minister is in total command, showing surefootedness and determination to fulfil poll promises. With his charisma intact, the Capt has been speaking his mind on national issues also – out of sync with his party’s position at times. His response to ‘sandstorm’ did not show him in a good light though.
BRAHM MOHINDRA
Once a bête noire of Amarinder Singh and now his confidant, the health and family
welfare minister is the second most important minister in the cabinet. As parliamentary affairs minister, the state legislator from Patiala Rural steered the government in the Vidhan Sabha, determining the floor strategy.
RANA GURJIT SINGH
Famously infamous, the power and irrigation minister became a cause for embarrassment to the government over his alleged benami participation in the recently held sand mining auction. Always dressed immaculately, he is Punjab’s richest MLA, known for courting controversies.
MANPREET BADAL
Once a crusader for fiscal prudence, the architect of the party’s populist election manifesto finds himself juggling funds for lofty poll promises. The finance minister gets credit for laying bare the state of finances and opening his purse strings only to the extent he can afford to. He also scores 100 on participation in the assembly.
NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU
The cricketerturned-politician wants to do a lot but believes words speak louder than action. Local bodies, tourism and cultural affairs minister, he is quick to decide. Badal bashing tops his agenda. The former BJP parliamentarian is media savvy and also quite popular among MLAs of his newly adopted party Congress.
RAZIA SULTANA
The only time she made news was for a helicopter ride to Amritsar for urgent meetings. Rumour has it that her public works department (PWD) is being run by proxy by her husband: director general of police, human rights commission, Mohammad Mustafa. She is a silent spectator in the assembly.