Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Parkash Singh Badal will be sworn in as Punjab Chief Minister for the fifth time today.
The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the historic place of Chappar Chiri in Mohali district where the Punjab government had recently inaugurated a memorial of legendary warrior Banda Singh Bahadur who defeated the Mughals.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the venue as several NDA leaders and chief ministers of various states are expected to attend the ceremony. About 1500 Punjab police personnel have been deployed to provide security and handle the movement of the vehicular traffic to Chappar Chiri.
Besides, the commandoes of the Indian Reserve Battalion and the Punjab Armed Police would also be present. Mr Badal, who steered the SAD-BJP alliance to historic
return to power in the state for second time in a row, was unanimously elected the leader of SAD Legislature party in a meeting of the newly elected SAD MLAs here on March 8. On March 9, Mr Badal was elected the leader of SAD-BJP legislature party in a joint meeting of the MLAs of the two parties. In the evening on the same day, he called on the Governor Shivraj Patil and staked his claim to form government in the state. (KMW NEWS)
