Date:03/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/03/stories/2009070357870700.htm

Other States - Punjab

Sukhbir Badal quits as Deputy CM

Special Correspondent

May contest by-election; CM to look after portfolios held by him

CHANDIGARH: Ruling Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has resigned from the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab as well as the Council of Ministers. Governor S. F. Rodrigues has accepted the resignation.

According to an official release here late on Wednesday evening, Mr. Badal cited technical reasons for his resignation. He had been sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on January 21 this year and was required to get elected as an MLA within six months, which did not happen.

The release said Mr. Badal submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in view of the upcoming by-elections to three Punjab Assembly constituencies that would enable him to contest.

The Election Commission of India has already announced the schedule for the by-elections from Jalalabad, Kahnuwan and Banur due on August 3.

While the Jalalabad and Kahnuwan seats fell vacant after sitting MLAs Sher Singh Ghubiya and Partap Singh Bajwa of the Akali Dal and the Congress respectively were elected as MPs from Ferozepur and Gurdaspur, the Banur by-election was forced by the death of Cooperation Minister Kanwaljit Singh.

An official communication on Thursday said the Chief Minister would now look after the portfolios held by Mr. Sukhbir Singh. They include the departments of Home Affairs, Information and Public Relations, Water Supply and Sanitation, NRI Affairs, Sports and Youth Welfare and Non-Conventional Energy.

New police Chief

The Punjab Government on Thursday appointed a Jammu and Kashmir cadre IPS officer, P.S. Gill, as the next Director-General of Police (DGP).

Earlier, the State Government promulgated an Ordinance to amend the provisions of the Punjab Police Act and facilitate the appointment of an officer from outside the State to the top police post.

Mr Gill succeeds K.K. Attri, who retired on June 30.

He would supersede three Punjab Police officers, A.P. Pandey, R.S. Gill and Anil Kaushik, who already have been given the rank of Director-General of Police.