Bhagwant Mann Oath-Taking Ceremony: Bhagwant Mann will be sworn-in as Punjab Chief Minister today as elaborate arrangements have been made for his oath-taking ceremony at Khatkar Kalan — ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district. The Punjab cabinet can have 18 ministers including the chief minister. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other senior party leaders will take part in the swearing-in ceremony.
Officials said full-proof security arrangements have been made for the ceremony and several senior officials, including Inspector General and Senior Superintendent Police rank officers, have been deputed for the event. Around 8,000 to 10,000 security personnel have been deployed for the event, said the officials. The venue is spread over 50 acres of land with another 50 acres earmarked for parking of vehicles, said the officials.
Invoking Bhagat Singh and Guru Nanak in his speech after taking oath as Punjab CM, Mann promised to build schools and hospitals in the state.
Navjot Singh Sidhu quits as Punjab Congress chief after Congress suffers with poll debacle in Punjab.
"The golden rays of the sun have brought a new dawn today. Today the whole Punjab will take oath at Khatkar Kalan to make the dreams of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Baba Sahib come true. I am leaving for his native village Khatkar Kalan to follow the thinking of Shaheed Bhagat Singh ji": Bhagwant Mann ahead of oath-taking
Congress's G-23 leaders will meet at Kapil Sibal's residence on Wednesday to discuss the situation obtaining in the party in the aftermath of its embarrassing loss in the assembly elections in five states and the CWC's endorsement of Sonia Gandhi's continuance as president.
Sources close to the Group of 23 leaders said they have also invited Congressmen who don't constitute the bloc but feel changes are required, including at the leadership level, to revive its electoral fortunes.
Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday sacked the party's chiefs in the five states where it suffered massive defeats last week, taking what it called the first step towards "reorganisation". Among the give chiefs was PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted that the resignations were sought to "facilitate the reorganisation" of the state Congress units.