Anil will soon be inducted in HP Cabinet: CM

Anil Sharma, former minister of state and son of former Union Communication minister Sukh Ram, would soon be inducted in Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said.
"Sharma would soon be inducted in the cabinet, may be before the budget session commencing from March 12 while remaining one berth in the ministry and chief parliamentary secretaries may be inducted later," the Chief Minister said on his return from Delhi after meeting AICC president Sonia Gandhi and other central leaders.
However, he clarified that his meeting with Gandhi was a routine meeting and has nothing to do with the cabinet expansion.

The meeting was to discuss various developmental and financial issues related to the state, he said.
Sharma was to sworn in as minister on February 23 but the ceremony was deferred as Governor Urmila Singh was indisposed.
The Chief Minister also hinted that it was not necessary to hold by-election for the vacant seat of Mandi parliamentary seat.

The seat of Mandi parliamentary constituency has fallen vacant after his resignation as an MP.
"According to rules it is only necessary to hold election when the elected member is getting a working period of minimum one year," he added.
The Chief minister said that he had given direction to the all ministers to be present at the state secretariat for a period of minimum four working days every week so that people coming from various corners of the state do not face problems.

"The functioning of all ministers is fine so far", he said.