<p>The Himachal Pradesh cabinet was expanded on Thursday with the induction of three ministers, the first expansion of the Jai Ram Thakur-led government since it came to power in 2017.</p>.<p>Those inducted as cabinet ministers are Paonta Sahib MLA Sukh Ram Chaudhary, Nurpur MLA Rakesh Pathania and Ghumarwin MLA Rajinder Garg. </p>.<p> Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office to the new ministers at a function in the Raj Bhawan. Covid-19 protocols were in place at the event.</p>.<p>While Sukh Ram and Rajinder Garg took oath in Hindi, Pathania took oath in English. </p>.<p>Born on April 15, 1964, Chaudhary is a backward class leader from Sirmaur district. He was a junior engineer in the electricity board before joining politics.</p>.<p>He was elected to the state Assembly thrice in 2003, 2007 and 2017. He served as chief parliamentary secretary from 2009 to 2012.</p>.<p>The 56-year-old Nurpur legislator,Pathania, started his political career in 1991. </p>.<p>Born on November 15, 1964 at Ladori village in Kangra district, Pathania was the BJP Kisan Morcha's Kangra president before becoming its state secretary and a member of the party's state executive.</p>.<p>A graduate, he was elected to the assembly as a BJP nominee in 1998 and re-elected as an independent in 2007 before becoming MLA for the third time in December 2017. Pathania belongs to the Rajput community. </p>.<p>Garg is a first-time MLA from Ghumarwin Assembly segment in Bilaspur district. Born on May 30, 1966 at Tandora, he is MSc in Botany. The journalist-turned-politician became a RSS Swayamsewak in 1982 and joined the ABVP in 1983.</p>.<p>The three ministerial berths in the state were lying vacant for the past several months.</p>.<p>Anil Sharma, who was the power minister, had resigned from the Cabinet in April last year.</p>.<p>Sharma had refused to campaign for the BJP candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat, Ram Swaroop Sharma, as his son Aashray was contesting from the seat on a Congress ticket.</p>.<p>Kishan Kapoor, who was the Civil Supplies Minister, resigned in May after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kangra.</p>.<p>Vipin Singh Parmar, who was the Health Minister, was appointed Speaker of the state assembly following resignation by the then Speaker Rajeev Bindal.</p>
<p>The Himachal Pradesh cabinet was expanded on Thursday with the induction of three ministers, the first expansion of the Jai Ram Thakur-led government since it came to power in 2017.</p>.<p>Those inducted as cabinet ministers are Paonta Sahib MLA Sukh Ram Chaudhary, Nurpur MLA Rakesh Pathania and Ghumarwin MLA Rajinder Garg. </p>.<p> Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office to the new ministers at a function in the Raj Bhawan. Covid-19 protocols were in place at the event.</p>.<p>While Sukh Ram and Rajinder Garg took oath in Hindi, Pathania took oath in English. </p>.<p>Born on April 15, 1964, Chaudhary is a backward class leader from Sirmaur district. He was a junior engineer in the electricity board before joining politics.</p>.<p>He was elected to the state Assembly thrice in 2003, 2007 and 2017. He served as chief parliamentary secretary from 2009 to 2012.</p>.<p>The 56-year-old Nurpur legislator,Pathania, started his political career in 1991. </p>.<p>Born on November 15, 1964 at Ladori village in Kangra district, Pathania was the BJP Kisan Morcha's Kangra president before becoming its state secretary and a member of the party's state executive.</p>.<p>A graduate, he was elected to the assembly as a BJP nominee in 1998 and re-elected as an independent in 2007 before becoming MLA for the third time in December 2017. Pathania belongs to the Rajput community. </p>.<p>Garg is a first-time MLA from Ghumarwin Assembly segment in Bilaspur district. Born on May 30, 1966 at Tandora, he is MSc in Botany. The journalist-turned-politician became a RSS Swayamsewak in 1982 and joined the ABVP in 1983.</p>.<p>The three ministerial berths in the state were lying vacant for the past several months.</p>.<p>Anil Sharma, who was the power minister, had resigned from the Cabinet in April last year.</p>.<p>Sharma had refused to campaign for the BJP candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat, Ram Swaroop Sharma, as his son Aashray was contesting from the seat on a Congress ticket.</p>.<p>Kishan Kapoor, who was the Civil Supplies Minister, resigned in May after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kangra.</p>.<p>Vipin Singh Parmar, who was the Health Minister, was appointed Speaker of the state assembly following resignation by the then Speaker Rajeev Bindal.</p>