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HP ministry expanded

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today expanded his fortnight-old ministry, inducting five new ministers.

State Governor V S Rama Devi administered the oath of office to the new ministers at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Shimla.

Those who took the oath were: Roop Singh Thakur, Vidya Sagar, I D Dhiman (all cabinet ministers), Karan Singh and Narinder Bragta (both ministers of state).

With today's expansion, the number of ministers in the Bharatiya Janata Party-Himachal Vikas Congress alliance government rose to 14.

In the two-tier ministry, there are now 10 ministers of cabinet rank and three ministers of state.

The Dhumal ministry was sworn-in on March 24 after the Virbhadra Singh government had resigned on the floor of the assembly on March 12 for want of majority support. Dhumal won the trust vote on March 31.

UNI

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