Himachal Pradesh CM expands cabinet, 7 ministers take oath

Nearly a month after chief minister Sukhu formed his government in Himachal Pradesh, he expanded his cabinet. 7 ministers took oath including former Congress CM Virbhadra Singh’s son. Their swearing-in ceremony was administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and it took place at the Raj Bhawan in Shimla.

MLAs, Dhani Ram Shandil, Chander Kumar, Harshwardhan Chauhan, Jagat Singh Negi, Rohit Thakur, and Anirudh Singh, also took oath as cabinet ministers. Chief Minister Sukhu was also present at the ceremony.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agniohtri, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Sunil Sharma, Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, MLAs, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, other senior officers and family members of newly appointed Chief Parliamentary Secretaries were also present on the occasion.

Earlier in the manifesto released by Congress on 12 November, had promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme, if voted to power. The CM arrived in Shimla from Delhi, on Saturday evening, after meeting the party’s high command. “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 said.

Sukhu had further informed that he would visit 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. We are in the government to change the system, not for power,” Sukhu said.