CHANDIGARH, June 28: The scheduled expansion of the Punjab Cabinet has been deferred due to the unavailability of Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who has left for Udaipur and is not expected to return until July 2, senior government sources said on Friday.
Governor Kataria’s absence has stalled the oath-taking ceremony required for new ministers to be formally inducted. A senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) functionary confirmed that discussions regarding the Cabinet reshuffle have also been put on hold as a result.
“Without the Governor, the oath cannot be administered. So, the entire process is temporarily on pause,” the functionary said.
The Cabinet expansion was initially expected to take place this week. Two days ago, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had met the Governor and announced that the new ministers would be sworn in within two or three days. Mann had confirmed that Sanjeev Arora, newly elected MLA from Ludhiana West, would be among the inductees, although he refrained from disclosing other potential names.
During the Ludhiana West bypoll campaign, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had promised that Arora would be made a Cabinet minister if elected. Arora’s formal oath as an MLA is scheduled for Saturday morning and will be administered by Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. Senior AAP leaders are expected to attend the ceremony.
Currently, two berths remain vacant in the 16-member Council of Ministers led by Mann. The state Cabinet is allowed a maximum of 18 members, including the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, speculation continues within political circles over possible changes in the ministerial lineup. Insiders say the delay may also provide space for re-evaluation of portfolio allocations or potential replacement of underperforming ministers.
Until Governor Kataria returns to Chandigarh, no final date for the Cabinet swearing-in can be announced.
