Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann meets governor, stakes claim to form govt

The 48-year-old was elected the AAP Legislature Party leader in Mohali on Friday, a day after the AAP registered a huge win in the Punjab assembly elections, winning 92 seats in the 117-member assembly.

Punjab chief minister-designate Bhagwant Mann on Saturday staked a claim to form the government in the state after meeting governor Banwarilal Purohit. Mann’s swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to be held on March 16.

Punjab chief minister-elect Bhagwant Mann meets governor Banwarilal Purohit to stake claim to form the new government in the state after AAP won the assembly polls with a two-thirds majority, at Raj Bhavan, in Chandigarh on Saturday. (ANI)

“We staked claim to form the government and the governor sahib approved it,” Mann told reporters after submitting a letter of support of his party MLAs to the governor at the Raj Bhawan.

The 48-year-old was elected the AAP Legislature Party leader in Mohali on Friday, a day after the AAP registered a huge win in the Punjab assembly elections, winning 92 seats in the 117-member assembly. Mann, who was the party’s chief ministerial candidate, won from the Dhuri seat by over 58,000 votes.

Mann said the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 12:30 pm on March 16 at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, in SBS Nagar district. “We invite the people of Punjab (for the ceremony). Every Punjabi will take oath on that day...we will vow to sacrifice everything for the progress of Punjab, he said. “We will pay tributes to Bhagat Singh.”

Replying to a question on the cabinet formation, he said, “The cabinet will be good. Historic decisions will be taken.”

Security arrangements at Khatkar Kalan

Jalandhar: Divisional commissioner Manvesh Singh Sidhu said that SBS Nagar administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony of CM-designate Bhagwant Mann at Khatkar Kalan on March 16. Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit would administer oath to the CM.

Kejriwal, Mann to visit Golden Temple Today

Mann has also invited AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for the swearing-in ceremony. On Sunday, the two leaders will pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir and Sri Ram Tirath Mandir.

They will take part in a roadshow in Amritsar to celebrate the AAP’s stupendous victory in the polls and thank voters.