In our country, regional parties run by a family or a clan is not a new thing, but in Punjab, it is virtually a oligarchy now as as many as twenty seven portfolios out of the total fifty are with chief minister Prakash Singh Badal, his son deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Sukhbir’s brother-in-law Bikramjit Singh Majithia and last but not the least, son-in-law of chief minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon.
With the resignation of Gulzar Singh Ranike recently, the influence of the Badal clan has further increased in the state politics in general and Akali Dal in particular. The eighteen member Cabinet at the time of government formation has now been reduced to 15 after Ranike’s resignation, as two more Cabinet ministers, including Bibi Jagir Kaur and Tota Singh, had to resign for different reasons earlier.
Now the situation is that all the 15 Cabinet ministers outside the Badal clan in the government had twenty three portfolios which is less than 4 Cabinet members of the Badal family, which together have 27 portfolios. CM Prakash Singh Badal has as many as 14 portfolios, which includes vigilance, power, general administration and agriculture to name a few. Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has seven portfolios, home and excise department. Third busiest minister of cabinet is Sukhbir’s brother in law Bikramjit Singh Majithia with four departments. The son in law of Badal’s Mr Adesh Partap Singh Kairon has two departments of food and civil supplies and IT with him.
Now with three cabinet minister becoming casulity to one controversy or other within seven months of government formation. There is aspiration amonst the many Akali leaders specailly the young leaders to be the part of cabinet and have share of power in the government. However, its is yet to be seen weather Badal clan would like to share power its has now have absolute control.
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