CM meets Sidhu, forms 10-member Strategic Policy Group for better party-govt coordination

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday called Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu for a meeting here and formed a 10-member ‘Strategic Policy Group’ aiming better party-govt coordination as well as expedites government programmes and initiatives.

The CM Captain will be heading group, which has been asked to hold weekly meeting for a smooth coordination between government and party leaders.

The Group will have Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Social Security Minister Aruna Chaudhary as members, along with Sidhu, the four party working presidents – Kuljit Singh Nagra, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Sangat Singh Gilzian and Arun Goel.

The newly appointed party general secretary (organisation) Pargat Singh has also included in this group by the CM.

The decision was taken this morning when Sidhu, along with Nagra and Pargat, called on the CM to discuss Punjab related issues and steps to strengthen party-government coordination.

“The Group will hold weekly meetings, in consultation with other ministers, experts etc as may be required. It will discuss and reviews the progress of the various state government initiatives already under implementation, and will also suggest measures to expedite the same,” CM said.

In another decision, Captain Amarinder has also assigned his cabinet colleagues the task of being available in Punjab Congress Bhawan every day, by rotation, for meetings with MLAs and other party functionaries to discuss issues relating to their constituencies/areas and address any grievances.

One minister each will be available at the Congress Bhawan from Monday for three hours (11 a.m. to  2 p.m), and in any case the minister deputed for a particular day is unable to make it for some reason, he/she shall arrange for a substitute in consultation with any other minister. The arrangement will be in place five days in a week, from Monday to Friday, said the Chief Minister, adding that this will help in better coordination between his government and party functionaries in the run-up to the 2022 Assembly elections.