Dr Balbir Singh, AAP MLA, sworn in as Punjab Cabinet Minister

Chandigarh: Dr. Balbir Singh, a prominent AAP leader and Patiala Rural MLA, was sworn in as the new Punjab Cabinet Minister on Saturday.

The change occurs not long after Fauja Singh Sarari resigned from his position as a Cabinet minister after a controversy over an audio clip in which he was heard allegedly discussing how to "trap" some contractors in order to "extort" money.

Balbir Singh was administered oath by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Raj Bhavan here Saturday evening in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Singh, an eye surgeon, had defeated senior Congress leader Brahm Mohindra's son Mohit Mohindra from the Patiala Rural seat in the assembly polls held last year.

Earlier in the day, Sarari resigned from the Cabinet.

AAP's Punjab unit spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said Sarari has resigned from the cabinet, citing "personal reasons".

With PTI inputs