7 more join HP Ministry
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 9 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, today expanded his six-month-old BJP-HVC combine ministry by inducting seven Ministers of State.

The much awaited expansion took place at Raj Bhavan in the morning where the Governor, Mrs V. S. Rama Devi, administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers.

Those inducted in the ministry are, Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, Mr Rikhi Ram Kaundal, Mr Mohan Lal, Mr Rajan Sushant, Mr Ravinder Singh Ravi, Mr Parveen Sharma and Mr Hari Narayan Singh.

Later, Mr Dhumal appointed Mr Chet Ram Negi, MLA from Kinnaur, as Parliamentary Secretary.

All the ministers and the parliamentary secretary belong to the BJP.

The tribal areas of the state have again remained unrepresented in the ministry as no one from there has been inducted.

Mr Kashyap has been elevated as minister from the post of Chief Parliamentary Secretary.

Mr Hari Narayan Singh, who represents the Nalagarh constituency of Solan district, was administered the oath after the ceremony had concluded and the Governor was having tea with the Chief Minister and other distinguished guests.

With this expansion, the strength of the ministry has risen to 20 with 10 Cabinet Ministers including the Chief Minister and an equal number of Ministers of State.

Representation has been given to Una and Solan districts in this third expansion by inducting Mr Parveen Sharma and Mr Hari Narayan Singh, respectively. Two new ministers, Mr Rajan Sushant and Mr Ravinder Singh Ravi have been included from the Kangra district.

Most of the new ministers were from the camp of the former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar.

Mr Dhumal said that Mr Ram Lal Markanda, MLA, would be appointed Parliamentary Secretary. He said that his effort was to give representation to the sections which had not found a berth in the ministry so far.

Portfolios will be allocated to the ministers later.