'To make Kejriwal PM in 2024...': New Punjab ministers' aim on oath day as Bhagwant Mann expands Cabinet

Three days after Bhagwant Mann took oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab, he expanded his cabinet with the swearing-in of 10 ministers. The oaths of office and secrecy were administered by Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Although Bhagwant Mann's oath ceremony had taken place at a mega event in Bhagat Singh's ancestral village, the ministers were sworn in at a solemn ceremony in Chandigarh. The Punjab Cabinet has a maximum strength of 18, including the CM.

Those part of the new Cabinet are Harpal Singh Cheema, Baljit Kaur, Harbhajan Singh ETO, Vijay Singla, Lal Chand Kataruchak, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Bram Shanker, and Harjot Singh Bains.

Speaking about his plans for the state, Harjot Singh Bains said, "We have to bring back Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Punjab. We have to make Punjab a model state, so that Arvind Kejriwal becomes India's PM in 2024."

Similar to Bhagwant Mann's oath-taking, many people wore yellow turbans at the March 19 event.
Mann had linked the 'basanti', or yellow, turban to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

The Aam Aadmi Party won the February 20 elections with a massive 92 seats in the 117-member Assembly.