HimVani
(With inputs from: Ajai Srivastava)

Shimla: Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s small cabinet in the end did not turn out to be that small, as nine ministers were administered oath of office by Governor V S Kokje at the Raj Bhavan today.

As expected, Kangra bagged the maximum number of berths with four MLAs, Kishan Kapoor, Ravinder Ravi, Ramesh Dhawala and Sarveen Chaudhary, making it to the cabinet.

The other ministers are Gulab Singh, Ishwar Das Dhiman, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Narender Bragta and Rajeev Bindal. State BJP president Jai Ram Thakur too is expected to get a ministerial berth at a later stage, BJP leader Satpal Jain informed.

A maximum number of 11 ministers can be inducted in the government, leaving scope for one more minister.

The ministerial portfolios would be decided at a later stage.

The party has proposed the names of Tulsi Ram (third timer from Bharmaur) and Khimi Ram (second timer from Banjar) for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively, for which the elections are slated for January 11 during the inaugural session of the House at Dharamsala. Till then Rikhi Ram Kondal would discharge the duties of the Speaker, who too was administered oath by the Governor.
Among those who attended the ceremony included Shanta Kumar, Satpal Jain, Jai Ram Thakur and other prominent leaders.