Punjab: after Sarari resignation, AAP's Balbir Singh sworn in as health minister

Senior AAP leader and Patiala Rural MLA Dr Balbir Singh was on Saturday sworn in as the new Punjab Cabinet minister, shortly after Fauja Singh Sarari tendered his resignation following a controversy over an audio clip.

Balbir (66) has been allotted the Department of Health and Family Welfare, earlier held by Chetan Singh Jouramajra, as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann rejigged portfolios of some ministers.

Earlier in the day, Sarari resigned from the cabinet, months after he was embroiled in the controversy over an audio clip in which he allegedly discussed ways to "trap" some contractors in order to "extort" money.

AAP's Punjab unit spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said Sarari has resigned from the cabinet, citing "personal reasons".

Sarari is the second minister to lose a ministerial berth in the over nine-month old Mann-led cabinet. Earlier, health minister Vijay Singla was sacked on corruption charges.

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