CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday distributed portfolios among his cabinet colleagues.
The chief minister has kept 14 departments, including vigilance, justice, civil aviation, with himself.
Deputy chief minister Sukhjinder S Randhawa has given important portfolios like home affairs, cooperation and jails.
15 ministers in the Charanjit Singh Channi-led council of ministers in Punjab took oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.
Chief minister Channi and his two deputies Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and OP Soni were administered oath by Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit earlier on September 20 after which the Congress took six days to finalise the council of ministers during which Channi made back-to-back trips to Delhi for discussion with the party high command.
Finally, with a last-minute replacement, 15 cabinet ministers, including eight who were part of the earlier Amarinder Singh-led cabinet, took oath on Sunday.
As if it was not enough, the delay in announcing the portfolios of the council of ministers reflected on the decisiveness of the chief minister and the pressure on him from different quarters.
This is at such a crucial time when the Congress government hardly has three months to fulfil its promises before the election code of conduct will come into force for the next state assembly polls scheduled in February.
