Dhumal ministry to be expanded tomorrow

Shimla, Jan 8 (UNI) The ten-day old BJP Ministry headed by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will be expanded tomorrow.

Mr Dhumal was the only one to take on December 30 and about seven ministers are likely to be inducted tomorrow.

The oath ceremony will take place tomorrow morning at the Raj Bhawan but the names and number of the ministers is being kept a secret.

According to sources in the BJP, a few senior legislators may be sworn in tomorrow in the first phase, while others would be accommodated in the second phase.

The names of Krishan Kapoor, J.P.Nadda, Gulab Singh, Roop Singh, Romesh Dhawala, Narinder Bragata, Hari Narain Saini and Ravi Inder Singh (all former Ministers) are taking rounds but none of them have received any information about their induction, officially or unofficially.

The constitution of the ministry has been discussed threadbare between Mr Dhumal and former union minister Shanta Kumar but sources said that some areas of disagreement remained to be addressed.

The new ministers would be allocated their portfolios immediately after the oath ceremony and a cabinet meeting would also be held, the sources said.

The total number of members of Council of Minister, including the Chief Minister could not exceed 12 and as such there are only eleven vacancies for 20 odd aspirants for ministerial berths.

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