CHANDIGARH: The Governor of Punjab, Surendra Nath, on Aug.5 accepted the resignation of ‘Umrao Singh from the State Cabinet.
Umrao Singh, who held the portfolio of Panchayats and Rural Development in the ministry, submitted his resignation on June 30 to the Chief Minister, Beant Singh, following his election to the Lok Sabha from the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency.
The portfolios of Panchayats and Rural Development held by Umrao Singh have been allocated to Master Jagir Singh Minister of State for Revenue, attached to the Chief Minister.
Master Jagir Singh has been given independent charge of Panchayats and Rural Development.
If another significant development Jagmohan Singh Kang, Minister of State, has been allocated the key department of Irrigation. He will however, be attached to the Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of the Irrigation and Power Departments. In the reshuffle carried out on July 9, Kang lost charge of the Revenue Department and was given relatively minor portfolios of Judiciary and Jaita in the Home Department. The allocation of the Irrigation Department marks his elevation in the Council of Ministers. The resignation of another Minister, Maninderjit Singh Bitta, who has been appointed President of the Indian Youth Congress, is yet to reach the Chief Minister. Although Butta is said to be Keen On staying on as Minister in Punjab because of security considerations, Beant Singh is said to be in no mood to oblige him. He is stated to be eagerly looking forward to Bitta’s resignation which has been handed over by him to Ahmed Patel, General Secretary of the AICC. Sources close to the Chief Minister indicated that vacancies caused by the exit of Umrao Singh Harnam Dass Johar and Bitta were likely to be filled after Aug.15.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 13, 1993
