Guwahati: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the newly elected chief minister of Himachal Pradesh assigned portfolios to ministers on Wednesday. The son of the former chief minister Vikramaditya Singh was given responsibility for the public works, youth and sports departments.
The late Virbhadra Singh, the former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh is the father of Vikramaditya Singh. His mother, Pratibha Singh represents the Mandi Lok Sabha Constituency in Congress.
On the recommendation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar distributed the portfolios
The Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri was given control of Jal Shakti Vibhag, Transportation, Language Arts and Culture while the Chief Minister retained responsibility for Finance, Home, Planning, Personnel and all other departments that had not been assigned to another Minister.
The responsibility for the departments of labour and employment, social justice and empowerment and health and family welfare was entrusted to Dhani Ram Shandil of the Solan constituency.
Shandil was appointed the hill state’s minister of social justice and women’s empowerment.
The agricultural and animal husbandry department is given to Kangra MLA Chander Kumar, while the industries, legislative affairs and Ayush portfolios have been assigned to Sirmaur MLA Harshwardhan Chauhan.
The revenue, horticulture and tribal development departments have been entrusted to Jagat Singh Negi of the Kinnaur district, a tribal area and the higher, elementary, technical and vocational and industrial training portfolios have been given to Rohit Thakur of the Shimla district.
The Congress won the Assembly elections on December 8 in a closely contested, see-saw contest for the Himayalan state, winning 40 seats to the BJP’s 25.
However, the vote share difference between the two parties was less than 1%.