After much delay, the Himachal Pradesh cabinet expansion will happen on Sunday, with seven new MLAs likely to be inducted. Among them are MLAs Vikramaditya Singh and Dhani Ram Shandil.
The ceremony will be held at the Raj Bhawan in Shimla this morning, sources told ANI. Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers.
The expansion comes after much delay as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday that he handed over the list of probables for his ministry to the Congress high command for approval. Sukhu, who was in Delhi, returned to Shimla on Saturday. However, he did not divulge more details.
"The meetings were personal. The Cabinet expansion is also my prerogative and I handed over the list of ten MLAs to the high command. As soon as the approval comes through, we will roll the ball to expand the Cabinet," the CM told reporters.
He added that he would be in Mumbai on Sunday. "I am going to Mumbai tomorrow and have another scheduled event in Pune. We hope to get the high command’s nod for the Cabinet expansion soon. As soon as I receive the approved list of candidates, I will effect the Cabinet expansion," he added.
However, PTI reported that Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Himachal Chief Minister and veteran leader Virbhadra Singh, and Dhani Ram Shandil are among those who will be inducted to the ministry on Sunday. While Vikramaditya was elected from the Shimla Rural constituency, 82-year-old Sandil defeated his son-in-law from the Solan assembly seat.
Others on the list include five-time MLA Harshwardhan Singh Chauhan, who won from his Shillai constituency, and Chander Kumar. The names of Jagat Singh Negi and Rohit Thakur are also doing the rounds.
Though it almost a month since the results were declared, only Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and his deputy Mukesh Agnihotri had taken oath yet.
There are 10 vacancies in the cabinet as the total number of ministers, including the chief minister and deputy chief minister, in Himachal Pradesh cannot exceed 12.
While Sukhu has kept with himself Finance, General Administration, Home, Planning, Personnel, Deputy chief Minister Agnihotri holds Jal Shakti Vibhag, Transport and Language, Arts and Culture departments.
Caste equations
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.
Besides, the government has to ensure representation for all districts. So far, three out of 12 districts have been given representation - Sukhu from Hamirpur, Agnihotri from Una and five times MLA from Bhatiyyat Kuldeep Pathania, who is from Chamba, as Assembly Speaker.
Sources added that one minister is expected from the Tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur while Kangra and Shimla with 10 and seven Congress MLAs, respectively, are expected to be given a share in the cabinet.
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.
The party has to also reconcile the claims of the two factions led by Suhkhu and state Congress chief Pratibha Singh.
(With inputs from PTI)
