Khanduri Ministry expanded with induction of 10 more members

Dehradun, Mar 27 (UNI) The B C Khanduri-led Uttarakhand Ministry was expanded today with the induction of ten more members, taking its strength to 12.

Eight MLAs were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers while two as Ministers of State by Governor Sudarshan Agarwal at the Raj Bhavan.

The Chief Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant were earlier administered the oath of office and secrecy on March 8.

The new Cabinet Ministers are Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Matbar Singh Kandari, Banshidhar Bhagat, Bishan Singh Chufal, Divakar Bhatt, Truvendra Rawat, Madan Kaushik and Rajendra Singh Bhandari.

The Ministers of State are Veena Maherana and Ajay Tamta.

Mr Nishank, Mr Kandari and Mr Bhagat were earlier Ministers in the interim BJP government, while Divakar Bhatt, an MLA of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, an Independent, Veena Maherana and Ajay Tamta are first time Legislators.

Maj- Gen (retd) Khanduri had earlier staked claim to form the government in the state with the support of three Uttarakhand Kranti Dal MLAs and three Independents. BJP won 34 seats in the 70-member assembly, just one short of majority, elections for which were held last month.

UNI