Sunjan Singh Pathania inducted into HP Cabinet

Shimla, Aug 1 (UNI) Mr Sujan Singh Pathania, four time legislator from Jawali assembly constituency of Kangra district, was today sworn in as the 11th member of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet.

Governor V S Kokje administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Pathania at a simple but an impressive ceremony here.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and several of his Cabinet colleagues and senior state government officials were present on the occasion.

Mr Pathania has been allotted health and transport departments, the Chief Minister later told reporters here.

Kangra, the biggest district of the state, now has two Cabinet members in Revenue Minister Sat Mahajan and Mr Pathania after former transport and tourism minister G S Bali resigned following a sting operation by a private TV news channel.

The Chief Minister is already on record having said there is a possibility of inducting another minister in the Cabinet soon.

Kangra, which has 16 assembly seats in a House of 68 members, now reduced to 66, has lost five cabinet ministers since the formation of the present Congress Government in March 2003.

Chander Kumar, Cabinet minister resigned in May 2004 after he was elected to Lok Sabha from Kangra Parliamentary constituency, while three ministers Vijai Singh Mankotia. Chandersh Kumari and Brij Bihari Lal Butail were axed in downsizing exercise besides Mr Bali's resignation on Monday.

The issue of more representation to Kangra district had emerged as a major issue during the past two years and the Chief Minister had occasionally hinted that the Council of Ministers would be restructured to give more representation to the district.

UNI