7 HP ministers put in papers

Seven of 16 ministers of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet resigned today even before they were asked to, giving Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh a free hand in pruning his team.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh later told reporters he was planning to ask the ministers to resign in a day or two, but seven of them had resigned suo motu ahead of that. He also hinted at a reshuffle of the Pradesh Congress Committee, saying the changes should be simultaneous. ‘‘It is high time the PCC is reshuffled but the party high command will decide that,’’ Singh said.

Singh and Power Minister and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Vidya Stokes had gone to Delhi to consult senior AICC office-bearers on the issue. After they returned today, the resignations, including that of the lone Parliamentary Secretary, came through.

Both Stokes and Virbhadra held separate talks with the Congress high command. They are likely to be summoned again to Delhi; Singh said the visit would be after June 30. Virbhadra had earlier said he would like a few Ministers back in the party to fill up several posts lying vacant.