'I am glad Congress Party has shown trust in me': Oscar Fernandes

The newly-appointed Road Transport and Highways Minister, Oscar Fernandes, on Monday thanked the Congress Party for entrusting him with this responsibility, and said that a lot of work needs to be done for the welfare of the people and the country.

Fernandes said that he was glad to accept the responsibility that the Congress Party has given me.

" I am glad that the Congress Party has shown trust in me. We have a lot of work that needs to be done for the welfare of the people and the country," he said.

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Apart from Fernandes, the leaders who were inducted as Cabinet Ministers are Sisram Ola, Girija Vyas, and Dr. K.S. Rao. Girija Vyas took over as Housing, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Sis Ram Ola took over as Labour and Employment Minister and K S Rao as Textiles Minister. Mallikarjun Kharge will be the new Minister for Railways.

Manikrao Gavit has been made Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Santosh Chowdhury, MoS Health and Family Welfare, Jesudasu Seelam, MoS Finance and E M S Natchiappan, MoS Commerce and Industry.

The newly inducted Ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Pranab Mukherjee at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan this evening.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers and senior congress leaders were also present on the occasion.