Himachal CM in Delhi, seeks party's nod to expand cabinet

Chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Saturday left for Delhi to seek permission of the high command for filling two posts in the state cabinet and to demand an industrial package on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir.

The state government is also expected to appoint some chief parliamentary secretaries and chairpersons of some board and corporations.

“A cabinet expansion is possible before the budget session with addition of two ministers, but there will be no change in portfolios. Some CPS may be appointed to complete the ministry formation exercise,” said Singh before leaving for Delhi.

The name of Anil Sharma, a former minister and son of former communication minister Sukh Ram, has already been cleared by the high command, while former ministers Asha Kumari and Karan Singh are contenders for a berth in the ministry. “There will be no change in portfolios since I have kept a few portfolios with me and whenever new ministers are inducted, they will get portfolios from the portfolios held by me,” said Singh.

Appointments of chairpersons of boards and corporations have been put on hold following the high command’s reported advice to get all political appointments cleared from the Centre. Singh said he will take up the issue of revival of industrial package and some other incentives and also expansion of the rail network in HP with central leaders during his visit.

“I will meet the Prime Minister and some union ministers and take up relevant issues. My prime concern is restoration of industrial package, which was withdrawn at time when industrial development had started picking up in Himachal,” he said.