Shimla: The two month old Virbhadra Singh led congress government in its first expansion, Saturday, inducted Anil Sharma, son of former union minister Sukh Ram, into the cabinet.
At a simple morning ceremony, Governor Urmila Singh administered oath of office and secrecy to Sharma at the Raj Bhawan.
Sharma has been given the portfolio of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj and Animal Husbandry.
With the state permitted to have a cabinet strength of 12, which includes the chief minister, the state now has 11, with there still being a scope for inducting another minister remaining.
Speaking after the swearing in ceremony, Virbhadra said the vacant spot in the cabinet would be filled up after the budget session.
All cabinet colleagues Vidya Stokes, Thakur Kaul Singh, GS Bali, Sujan Singh Pathania, Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Mukesh Agnihotri, Sudhir Sharma, Prakash Chaudhary and Dhani Ram Shandil were present on the occasion. Former union minister Sukh Ram was also present.
Sharma has been elected to the state assembly for the third time. He was a minister for state from 1993 to 1996 in the then Virbhadra Singh ministry but had resigned, following arrest of Sukh Ram in the telecom scam. He has also been a member of the Rajya Sabha.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
