Dhumal inducts five more in HP ministry

Shimla, April 9: The BJP-led coalition ministry in Himachal Pradesh headed by Prem Kumar Dhumal was expanded today with the induction five m...

Shimla, April 9: The BJP-led coalition ministry in Himachal Pradesh headed by Prem Kumar Dhumal was expanded today with the induction five ministers — three of them new in government — raising its strength to 14.

The exercise, the first since Dhumal was sworn in at the head of a nine-member ministry on March 24, was tinged with dissent within BJP as supporters of senior party leader Roop Dass Kashyap demonstrated for two hours protesting his exclusion in the cabinet. Seeking to stifle discontent, Dhumal appointed Kashyap as a chief parliamentary secretary and gave him the independent charge of Urban Development attached to the Chief Minister. The five new entrants belong to BJP increasing the party’s share to 11 in the 14-member ministry.

Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu and Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji

Spate of surrenders later, Maoists get new public liaison who vouches for ‘armed struggle’

India2 hr ago

The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) has found a new public voice after its ideological head Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu surrendered along with 60 cadres in Maharashtra earlier this month. According to Telangana intelligence sources, Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji, believed to be the current General Secretary of the party, has doubled up as its public face under the pseudonym Abhay

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