M A I N   N E W S

10-member Virbhadra ministry sworn in
Tribune News Service

Cabinet Ministers Vidya Stokes, Kaul Singh Thakur, GS Bali, Sujan Singh Pathania, Thakur Singh Bharmauri, Mukesh Agnihotri, Sudhir Sharma, Prakash Chowdhary and Dhani Ram Shandil took oath as Cabinet Ministers.

Kangra takes lion’s share Kangra district, from where the Congress has won 10 out of 15 seats, has got the lion’s share with three ministers. While Bali and Sujan Singh have been ministers earlier, Sudhir Sharma, son of late Congress stalwart Sant Ram, has become Cabinet minister for the first time.

Shimla, December 25
Virbhadra Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister for a record sixth time in front of a mammoth crowd on the historic Ridge Maidan here today. Governor Urmilla Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to Virbhadra Singh. Nine Cabinet ministers were also sworn in. It was for the first time that Virbhadra Singh took oath at an open ceremony outside the Raj Bhawan.

Vidya Stokes, Kaul Singh Thakur, GS Bali, Sujan Singh Pathania, Thakur Singh Bharmauri, Mukesh Agnihotri, Sudhir Sharma, Prakash Chowdhary and Dhani Ram Shandil took oath as Cabinet Ministers.

Virbhadra Singh has constituted his ministry on expected lines. Senior leaders Asha Kumari and Brij Bihari Lal Butail, both from the rival camp, did not find a place in the ministry. The name of Dhani Ram Shandil was included at the last minute.

However, a notable omission is Anil Sharma, son of the former union telecom minister Sukh Ram who had thrown his weight behind Virbhadra Singh. There are only two ministers from Mandi, Kaul Singh and Prakash Chaudhary. However, with two Cabinet berths still vacant there is hope for Anil Sharma.

The largest and politically most significant Kangra district, from where the Congress has won 10 out of 15 seats, has got the lions share with three minsters. While Bali and Sujan Singh have remained ministers earlier, Sudhir Sharma, son of late Congress stalwart Sant Ram, has become Cabinet minister for the first time. He shifted to Dharamsala constituency after his traditional seat Baijnath was reserved for Scheduled Castes during delimitation.

Senior leader Vidya Stokes, who entered the Vidhan Sabha for eighth time, is the deserving number two in the Cabinet. Besides Virbhadra Singh, she is the only minister from Shimla district from where the party won six out of eight seats.

Thakur Singh Bharmouri, who won from the tribal Bharmour seat, is the lone minister from Chamba. Mukesh Agnihotri from Una has also entered the ministry for the first time. However, Dhani Ram Shandil, is a first-time MLA, representing the Solan district.

Unlike 2003 when Amarinder Singh and several other leaders from the neighbouring states, there not many from outside state except Birender Chaudhary and Anees Ahmad from the AICC were present at the ceremony. Two union minsters from state Anand Sharma and Chandresh Kumari were conspicuous by their absence.

The family members of the chief minister including his wife, Pratibha Singh were seated on the dais during the oath ceremony. The family members of all the other the ministers who took oath also arrived at the venue before Virbahdra took oath at 10.43 a.m.

Thakur Singh Bharmouri, a Gaddi who represents the Bharmour assembly segment from Chamba was the only one attired in the traditional woollen dress and a fancy headgear.