A beaming Virbhadra Singh was sworn in as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister at a glittering function at the Raj Bhavan here today. Also sworn in were 15 Cabinet ministers, including three women, a first in the history of the state.Loud cheers rent the air as Governor Dr Suraj Bhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Virbhadra and his ministers. Virbhadra was followed by Vidya Stokes and Kaul Singh Thakur. Cong holds back all key berths in Meghalaya SHILLONG: Congress has kept back 11 major portfolios, doling out six others to its biggest ally, United Democratic Party, in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance coalition government. CM Lapang has kept to himself portfolios like finance, planning, revenue and industries. Portfolios like taxation, PWD (road & building), Home, community & rural development, mining & geology have been allotted to Congress ministers. UDP has been given five major portfolios. (ENS) For many of the elected veterans, the swearing-in also spelt a move up the ladder — from a Minister of State to Cabinet. The only new faces were those of Singhi Ram and G.S. Bali.The three women wore big smiles, perhaps because it was the first time they had found such a representation in the Cabinet. Rajputs, who dominate the state, also dominated the Cabinet, with 12 of the 15 ministers from this caste. The OBCs, SCs, and Brahmins got one minister each.Virbhadra later hinted at a Cabinet expansion after the Budget session of the Assembly later this month, contradicting his claims of a small ministry.Gangu Ram Musafir, a senior Congress leader who was expected to make it to the Cabinet, is reportedly being tipped for the Speaker’s post.
