Capt Amarinder’s oath-taking at Raj Bhawan to be a low-key affair

In contrast to the ex-Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s grand oath-taking ceremony in 2012, Captain Amarinder Singh will take oath as the next CM at the Punjab Raj Bhawan on Thursday in a low-key affair.

Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore will administer the oath of office.

Amarinder led Congress to a resounding victory, with the party winning 77 seats in the state assembly elections, results of which were declared on March 11.

Sources told Hindustan Times that the event will be a low key affair, preparations for which have already begun at the Raj Bhawan.

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This is bound to be quite the contrast to the grand swearing-in ceremony in 2012 when Prakash Singh Badal took oath as the CM, along with a few other ministers, at Chappar Chiri.

The then-government had come under criticism from the Opposition for splurging on the ceremony. The SAD -BJP alliance had then become the first party in four decades to return to power for a second consecutive time.

Sources said austerity, and not extravagance, will be the byword for the new government. Who all and how many ministers take oath with the CM will be known shortly, sources added.