The First Amarinder Singh ministry was the Council of Ministers headed by Amarinder Singh in the state of Punjab, India. It was formed after the victory of the Indian National Congress in the 2002 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. Amarinder Singh was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Punjab on 27 February 2002.
The ministry initially consisted of 13 Cabinet Ministers and six Ministers of State. In January 2004, after internal differences within the Punjab Congress, former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister. Several changes were made to the Council of Ministers during the tenure of the government.
The ministry remained in office until the defeat of the Congress in the 2007 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, after which the Fourth Badal ministry headed by Parkash Singh Badal assumed office.
Tenure
The Amarinder Singh government came to power promising administrative reforms, economic revival and action against corruption. The government focused on agricultural diversification, industrial revival and improving governance.
Soon after assuming office, the government replaced several senior bureaucrats appointed during the previous administration. Y. S. Ratra was appointed Chief Secretary and M. S. Bhullar was appointed Director General of Police.
The government also constituted committees on agriculture, finance and industrial revival. The S. S. Johl Committee was established to recommend reforms in Punjab agriculture and reduce dependence on the wheat-paddy cycle.
In January 2004, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was appointed Deputy Chief Minister as part of efforts by the Congress high command to resolve factional disputes within the state unit.
Council of Ministers
S.NoNameConstituencyDepartmentParty1.Amarinder SinghChief Minister of PunjabHome Affairs and Justice Jails Sports and Youth Services Welfare General Administration Civil Aviation Vigilance Power Information and Public Relations Agriculture Defence Services Welfare Removal of Grievances Relief and Rehabilitation Information Technology Industries and Commerce Environment Other departments not allocated to any MinisterINCDeputy Chief Minister2.Rajinder Kaur BhattalDeputy Chief MinisterMedical Education and Research Higher Education Languages Technical EducationINCCabinet Ministers3.Lal SinghRural Development and Panchayats Irrigation PowerINC4.Raghunath Sahai PuriHousing and Urban DevelopmentINC5.Jagmohan Singh KangAnimal Husbandry Dairy Development Tourism FisheriesINC6.Sardul SinghExcise and Taxation Printing and StationeryINC7.Amarjit Singh SamraRevenue Rehabilitation Relief and Resettlement NRI AffairsINC8.Mohinder Singh KaypeeTransportINC9.Avtar HenryFood and Supplies Public HealthINC10.Ramesh Chander DograHealth and Family WelfareINC11.Partap Singh BajwaPublic Works Department (B&R) Cultural Affairs Archives and MuseumsINC12.Harnam Dass JoharSchool EducationINC13.Surinder SinglaFinance Planning Institutional Finance and BankingINC14.Jagjit SinghLocal Government Parliamentary Affairs ElectionsINC15.Jasjit Singh RandhawaCooperation HorticultureINCMinisters of State16.Rakesh PandeyScience and Technology Industrial TrainingINC17.Gurkanwal KaurWelfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Social Security Development of Women and ChildrenINC18.Hira Raj JosanState ForestsINC
Major decisions
Agricultural diversification committee
The government appointed agricultural economist S. S. Johl to head the Committee on Reorganising Agriculture and Diversification. The committee examined ways for Punjab to reduce its dependence on the wheat-paddy cycle and create links between agriculture and industry.
Industrial revival
A committee headed by former Chief Secretary Ajit Singh Chatha was established to examine the revival of industries in Punjab.
Administrative reforms
The government announced measures aimed at reducing corruption, including proposals requiring elected representatives to declare their assets.
See also
Government of Punjab, India Punjab Legislative Assembly Second Badal ministry Fourth Badal ministry
References