The Hindu : Cong. strikes balance in Himachal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 07, 2003

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Cong. strikes balance in Himachal

By Kanwar Yogendra

Shimla March 6. Veerbhadra Singh was sworn in Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh for the fifth time at the Raj Bhavan today in an impressive ceremony. After a long spell of cold, it was a bright day and hundreds of people attended the ceremony.

Fifteen Cabinet Ministers were also administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Governor, Suraj Bhan. The PCC president, Vidya Stokes, who was also a contender for the Chief Minister's post, was the second to be sworn in after Mr. Singh.

In choosing the Ministry, the Congress high command appeared to have struck a perfect balance between its two camps. Sat Mahajan, Rangila Ram Rao, Chandresh Kumari, Raj Kishen Gaur, Vijay Singh Mankotia, Harsh Mahajan and G. S. Bali are considered close to Ms. Stokes while Kaul Singh, Chander Kumar, Ram Lal, B.B. Bhutail, Kuldip Kumar, Asha Kumari and Singhi Ram are the Chief Minister's men. Gangu Ram Musafir will be the Speaker of the Assembly.

The Punjab Chief Minister, Amrinder Singh, the AICC general secretary, Mohsina Kidwai, and the secretary, Satyajitsinh Gaekwad, were here to attend the ceremony. No senior leader or newly- elected BJP MLA was present.

Speaking to newspersons later, the Chief Minister said that he would expand his Ministry after the budget session and representation would be given to the districts left out today.

His predecessor, Prem Kumar Dhumal, reportedly vacated the official residence on Wednesday and left for his native village in Hamirpur.

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