Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Wednesday inducted nine cabinet ministers, taking the strength of his ministry to ten.

Governor V S Kokje administered the oath to nine ministers at Raj Bhawan.

According to the Constitution, there can be a maximum of 12 ministers in HP including the chief minister. After Wednesday's oath function, two berths are still vacant in the BJP government in the hill state.

Chief Minister Dhumal has already said that he would expand his ministry in two phases.

The leaders who were administered oath on Wednesday were: Thakur Gulab Singh, Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Ravinder Singh Ravi, Kishan Kapoor, Narendra Bragta, Ramesh Dhwala, Rajiv Bindal and Sarvin Chaudhary.

Except for Bindal, Thakur Gulab Singh and Sarvin Chaudhary all were members of Dhumal's cabinet in his first term from 1998-2003. Thakur Gulab Singh, who is a relative of Dhumal, was the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha at that time.
   
Sarvin Chaudhary who won from Shahpur assembly seat in Kangra district is the lone woman member in the cabinet.
   
Kangra is considered as epicenter of the state politics as it sends 16 members in the 68-member HP assembly and four ministers were inducted in the cabinet from the area.

One member each were taken from Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Shimla and Solan districts.

The ministry was a balance of loyalists of Shanta Kumar and Dhumal.

Three members J P Nadda, Kishan Kapoor and Ramesh Dhawala were inducted as cabinet ministers are close supporters of Shanta Kumar, who was earlier ignored by the party high command for CM post in favour of Dhumal.

Dhiman, who represents Mewa (reserved SC) seat in the Dhumal's home Hamirpur district, has also been named as protem speaker for administering oath to the newly elected MLAs.

Besides the CM, Shanta Kumar, BJP in-charge of HP affairs Satyapal Jain and state BJP president Jairam Thakur were present on the occasion.

None of the Congress leaders including outgoing chief minister Virbhadra Singh attended the function.

When contacted, senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur, who was parliamentary affairs minister in Virbhadra Singh cabinet said he and other Congress leaders were not extended an invitation for today's function.

The new cabinet ministers are expected to be given departments by today evening. Cabinet meeting is scheduled on Tuesday.

Source : PTI