In a major rejig, 5 MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday took oath as Ministers in the Punjab Government Cabinet. The five MLAs were administered oath by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. The five MLAs include- Barinder Kumar Goyal, Mohinder Bhagat, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Taranpreet Singh, and Dr. Ravjot Singh. On Sunday, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann removed 4 ministers from his cabinet namely- Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Balkar Singh, Brahm Shankar Jimpa, and Anmol Gagan Maan. The five MLAs who have taken oath will be given portfolios in the Punjab Government as well. Their portfolios are yet to be announced. Know about the newly inducted Ministers of Punjab Government below-
1) Barinder Kumar Goyal
Barinder Kumar Goyal is an MLA from Lehra Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Barinder Kumar is an AAP leader who He is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party who won the 2022 Punjab Assembly Elections and became an MLA. In 2022, he defeated S. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, sitting MLA and ex. cabinet minister, Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bhatthal, ex-CM, and S. Gobind Singh Longowal, ex-President of SGPC & ex-cabinet Minister with a huge margin. Barinder is known for his social work as well. Barinder Kumar Goyal has made a local-level social manch named Lehra Vikas Manch (LVM).
2) Mohinder Bhagat
Mohinder Bhagat is an Aam Aadmi Party leader and MLA from Jalandhar West. Mohinder Bhagat is a close confidante of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann who won the Jalandhar West Byelections by defeating his own ex-colleague Sheetal Angural who joined Bhartiya Janta Party just before the elections. Mohinder Bhagat had left BJP to join AAP during the bye-elections held in 2023. Mohinder Bhagat was inducted into AAP at Chandigarh. Mohinder's father Chunni Lal Bhagat was a prominent face for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Punjab. He has also been a minister in the state government. BJP had fielded him in the assembly elections held in February 2022, where he suffered a crushing defeat. Mohinder Bhagat suddenly left BJP during the by-election and joined AAP.
3) Hardeep Singh Mundian
AAP leader Hardeep Singh Mundian is the MLA from the Sahnewal Assembly constituency. He was elected as the MLA in the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. Professionally a businessman, Hardeep is expected to get an important portfolio in Punjab Cabinet Reshuffle 2024 as he is a young Sikh face of AAP.
4) Taranpreet Singh
Taranpreet Singh is MLA from Khanna constituency. He too became MLA after winning the 2022 Punjab Elections. In Punjab Cabinet Rejig, Taranpreet Singh is also expected to get an important portfolio. It is said that Taranpreet Singh has a stronghold in both Ludhiana and Khanna districts. Hence, making Taranpreet Singh a minister in the Punjab Government can be a masterstroke from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
5) Dr. Ravjot Singh
Dr. Ravjot Singh is an MLA from the Sham Chaurasi constituency. As per reports, Ravjot Singh is a doctor by profession and runs a private hospital, Ravjot Hospital & Cardiac Centre in the model town area of Hoshiarpur City. Ravjot is a big name of Doaba. With byelections on the cards, the induction of Dr. Ravjot in the Punjab government can be a major push for AAP in the Hoshairpur constituency.