New Haryana ministers get rooms but no portfolios

The newly-inducted ministers in the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana were Tuesday allotted official rooms in the state secretariat but none of them have been allotted portfolios.

The nine ministers, including six cabinet ministers, one minister of state with independent charge and two ministers of state, continued to be without departments (till 8.45 pm Tuesday).

Chief Minister Khattar and the nine ministers were sworn in Sunday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several union ministers, the Bharatiya Janata Party's top brass and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states.

BJP sources said that the delay in allotting portfolios was due to some ministers seeking departments of their own choice.

The chief minister went to New Delhi Tuesday to consult BJP leadership on the portfolio allocation.

"It is the third day today after they were sworn in. The ministers are holding meetings with officials and touring their areas without even knowing which departments come under them," a newly-elected BJP legislator told IANS.

Khattar has not even been able to appoint officers and staff of his choice in the chief minister's office (CMO) too.

At least four cabinet ministers - Ram Bilas Sharma, Anil Vij, O.P. Dhankad and Abhimanyu - were themselves in the race to be the first BJP chief minister in the state.

The BJP came to power in Haryana for the first time after winning 47 seats in the 90-member assembly in the Oct 15 assembly poll.