The Chief Minister designate, Bhagwant Mann, will take oath of office along with other cabinet ministers on March 16 at Khatkar Kalan, the native village of Bhagat Singh near Nawanshahar.
The senior leadership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior Delhi government ministers, will be in attendance. Bhagat Singh is an important symbol of AAP’s ideology.
The present Vidhan Sabha will soon be dissolved by the Governor and he has received the recommendation for the same from the Cabinet. He will also issue directions for the constitution of the new Vidhan Sabha. The CM designate, Bhagwant Mann, and Raghav Chadha are also expected to meet the Punjab Governor Saturday morning to stake claim to form the government.
“The term of the 16th Vidhan Sabha will start from the first day of the session of the assembly,” a senior Vidhan Sabha official said.
Around half of the authorised cabinet strength is initially slated to take oath along with Bhagwant Mann with a mix of old and new MLAs with the former being more in number at present. There are a total of 17 cabinet ministers other than the CM when at full strength.