Ashok Chaudhary (seated), husband of minister Aruna Chaudhary (R), at an Education Department meeting in Punjab Secretariat. Tribune Photo

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

One must have heard of panch “patis” running the show on behalf of their better halves, but of “mantri pati”, perhaps not. Aruna Chaudhary, Minister of State, Higher Education and School Education,  seems to be relying completely on her spouse Ashok Chaudhary ”for helping her learn the ropes.” The latter told The Tribune that this was because they were a perfect couple, who worked in coordination!  Ashok Chaudhary not only accompanied the minister to her office today, but was seen chairing department meetings, meeting MLAs who called on his wife at her office on the sixth floor of the Punjab Civil Secretariat, and even going through the department files. While the minister stood talking to women representatives, her husband remained seated on  a chair placed adjacent to the minister’s (with higher back).  All this while, officers seemed quite amused at this power “shift”. But Ashok Chaudhary, a retired Additional Director, Local Bodies Department, told The Tribune that he had merely accompanied his wife to the Secretariat to help her locate her room and get familiar with the work environment as well as to guide her on holding meetings. “What wrong have I done? As her life partner, I should be helping her at every step. She has been assigned two public dealing departments. I was merely helping her. As a former government employee, I am aware of the rules and have not issued any directions on her behalf,” he said.Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had promised 33 per cent  reservation for women in jobs at his maiden Cabinet meeting held last week. He has inducted two women in his Cabinet. Punjab has seen some of the toughest women politicians, who have worked independently. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has been the CM. Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, Satwant Kaur Sandhu, Bibi Jagir Kaur and Dr Upinderjit Kaur have been ministers. They all worked independently.