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Himachal: 7 MLAs including Vikramaditya sworn in as cabinet ministers

Besides the post of deputy speaker, three berths are still vacant

Himachal cabinet Seven ministers takes oath at Raj Bhawan, Shimla on Sunday | ANI

A total of seven MLAs were sworn in as cabinet ministers of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday at Raj Bhawan Shimla. Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to seven ministers. 

Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri took oath on Dec 11. 

Seven MLAs including Dhani Ram Shandil, Chander Kumar, Harshwardhan Chauhan, Jagat Singh Negi, Rohit Thakur, Anirudh Singh and Vikramaditya Singh took oath as cabinet ministers. 

Besides the post of deputy speaker, three berths are still vacant as maximum number of ministers, including the chief minister, cannot exceed 12.

"We'll implement the Old pension scheme. Also, Rs 1,500 will be given to women in state. Congress is fulfilling all the promises. In cabinet expansion, every region of the state has been given importance. Portfolios will be allocated soon," said CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu while talking to the reporters. 

The expansion comes after much delay as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday that the Congress high command approved the list of the probable handed over to them. 

However, one reason for the delay in cabinet expansion is due to the caste equations in the state and the need to strike a balance between old and new faces. The Chief Minister himself had earlier said that the cabinet would be a mix of professionals, youth and representatives of various sections. 

The Congress has won 40 out of 68 assembly seats, including four each in Una, Solan, and Hamirpur, three in Sirmaur, two each in Chamba and Kullu, and one each in Mandi, Bilaspur, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts.

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