Badal to take oath for 5th time today

Badal to take oath for record 5th time today

Parkash Singh Badal, who led the SAD-BJP combine to a thumping win in the Punjab Assembly poll, will take oath as CM for the second consecutive term and a record fifth time at historic Chapar Chiri Banda Bahadur Memorial in Ajitgarh district on Wednesday.

The oath taking ceremony is traditionally held at Raj Bhavan. Chappar Chiri has a special place in Sikh history.

In 1710, Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur won the battle against Wazir Khan, who commanded the Mughal army, at the historical place.

Five years ago, the sprawling Punjab Cricket Association stadium at Mohali was the venue for the swearing-in of the 85-year-old SAD patron.

The SAD-BJP alliance government during its outgoing term has set up 'Fateh Burj (tower of victory)' in Chappar Chiri, about 25 km from Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, there was no official announcement on whether other Cabinet rank ministers would be sworn in with Badal. The assembly can have an 18-member council of ministers, including the Chief Minister.

Both SAD and BJP have been maintaining a silence on the number of ministers from each party to be included in the Badal ministry.

According to sources, BJP may get four ministerial berths this time against five in the outgoing tenure as its strength in the state assembly had dwindled to 12 from 19.

Badal headed full two five-year terms from 1997-2007. His other terms were 1977-1980 and 1970-71.

The SAD-BJP alliance won 68 seats in the 117-member House, whereas the Opposition Congress got 46 seats, 13 short of the magical figure of 59.