To ensure the much awaited expansion of his Cabinet, the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh is slated to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

The CM reached Delhi on Wednesday to take a meeting with the Congress leaders such as Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, In-charge of Punjab affairs Asha Kumari, Secretary Harish Chaudhary among other prominent leaders.

Sources in the Congress said that this time the Cabinet expansion is much expected as the CM will discuss the probable names with Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

Sources further said, Rahul may add about ten members to the Punjab Cabinet, which now has nine ministers including the CM. This will be the first Cabinet expansion since he assumed office in March 2017.

While cabinet expansion has always been about balancing different communities and castes, talent and new comers, the trickiest thing for a Congress CM now is to balance between the young and the old, said sources.

It was further told that the CM is likely to expand his Cabinet on 21 April after getting a final nod from the top leadership. The development is significant in the wake of speculation that the Cabinet expansion might get delayed due to the pending judgment in the Navjot Singh Sidhu road rage case.

After the resignation of Power and Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjit Singh, nine Cabinet berths are vacant. Besides expansion, shuffling of portfolios is also expected, added the sources.

Sources said due representation would be given to Hindus, Dalits and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Maintaining a mix of youth and talent, three new faces such as Kuljit Nagra, Vijay Inder Singla and Randeep Nabha, are the frontrunners. Three-time Mohali legislator Balbir Singh Sidhu could emerge as the dark horse among Jat faces.

Similalry, Urmar legislator Sangat Singh Gilzian may also find a place in the Cabinet as an OBC representative. Senior-most Cabinet minister Brahm Mohindra may be given more responsibilities, added the sources. From Majha region, inclusion of Sukhjinder Randhawa and Amritsar legislator Raj Kumar Verka is expected.