Amarinder takes oath as Punjab CM

Chandigarh: After guiding the Congress to a resounding victory, Amarinder Singh was on Thursday sworn-in as the Punjab chief minister for the second time with nine ministers including Navjot Singh Sidhu also taking the oath. 75-year-old Amarinder was sworn in as the state’s 26th chief minister. This will be Amarinder’s second stint as chief minister.
Speculation was rife that Sidhu, the cricketer-turned politician, would be given the post of deputy chief minister but he was second among the list of nine ministers to be sworn in.
Brahm Mohindra was sworn in as cabinet minister right after Amarinder. Two Ministers of State – both women- were sworn in at the ceremony attended among others by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
Sporting a black sleeveless jacket adorned with army medals, Amarinder took the oath in English.
Congress under the leadership of Amarinder had won 77 seats in the 117 member Assembly elections wresting power from the SAD-BJP alliance which was relegated to the third spot with 18 seats. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 20 seats and two seats went to its ally Lok Insaaf Party. (PTI)