Bringing all speculations to an end, finally, the BJP-JJP led government expanded the cabinet here on 28 December 2021 in Chandigarh in a program held in Raj Bhavan. The BJP and its partner in government the JJP gave berths to Kamal Gupta and Devender Babli in the state cabinet respectively. It is pertinent to mention that Kamal Gupta and Devender Bablu had been elected from Hisar and Tohana constituencies respectively in assembly elections. Contesting election on the ticket of the JJP, Brala emerged winner in the battle giving a debacle to the opponent and former BJP state president Subhash Brala with a huge margin of 52302 votes. It is believed that Brala was denied a berth in the cabinet due to Brala’ disappointment which was formed after the BJP-JJP led government came into existence.
What is of the utmost importance here to mention is that the Home Minister Anil Vij who has a portfolio of seven departments refrained from attending the oath-taking ceremony as he was being believed upset due to some reasons. He was reported coming out of the CM residence after attending a meeting. One of the BJP leaders said on anonymity that is being learnt that one or two of the departments may be taken from him which led to his absence from the programme. Thus, the whole issue became the talk of the town during the oath-taking ceremony.
It is worth stating that Kamal Gupta has been associated and having close bonding with the leaders of (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) which helped him to get the post of a cabinet minister. Apart from aforesaid, he is familiar enough with issues related to the people which Stands as an additional plus point for him. Besides, he is believed to be in the good books of Chief Minister Manohar Lal.
As the cast factor was being reported to play a crucial role in deciding the ministers, the same proved true to some extent. Kamal Gupta and Devender Babli hail from Baniya and Jat communities respectively. Everyone is familiar with the fact that the BJP has a sizable chunk of vote bank in the Baniya community and likewise the JJP succeeded in getting a huge vote share of the Jat caste in the assembly elections.
If we look at the entire state cabinet then what comes out is that five ministers including the Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, Kamlesh Dhanda, Ranjeet Singh, JP Dalal and Devender Babli belong to the Jat community to be followed by the Punjabi community with the Chief Minister Manohar Lal and the Home minister Anil Vij. While two ministers Banwari Lal and Anoop Dhanak belong to the SC community. While rest five ministers hail from Brahmin, Yadav, Gurjjer, Baniya and OBC category. Among both newly appointed cabinet ministers, Kamal marked the presence in the oath-taking ceremony first of all with his family members.