Khattar keeps key portfolios

Another communication, quoting Mr. Khattar said the State government would function as a team and seek to fulfil the aspirations of the people.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inducting Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu in his room at Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh on Wednesday. File photo: PTI

Even as he kept most of the important ministries with himself, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has allocated portfolios to his six Cabinet colleagues and three Ministers of State. According to a communication from the State government late on Tuesday night, Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki granted his consent to allocation of ministries which are believed to have been approved by the BJP’s central leadership.

Another communication, quoting Mr. Khattar said the State government would function as a team and seek to fulfil the aspirations of the people.

Mr Khattar has kept the portfolios of Home, Power, Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates, Mines and Geology, General Administration, Science and Technology, Urban Local Bodies, Administration of Justice, Archives, Architecture, Electronics and Information Technology, Housing, Jails, Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Personnel and Training, Raj Bhawan Affairs, Renewable Energy and any department not specifically notified.

BJP State unit president Ram Bilas Sharma has been entrusted with the charge of Education and Languages, Transport, Technical Education, Food and Supplies, Tourism, Civil Aviation, Parliamentary Affairs, Hospitality, Archaeology and Museums.

While Capt Abhimanyu would be new minister for Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation, he would also hold the portfolios of Revenue and Disaster Management, Forests, Environment, Industries and Commerce, Labour and Employment, Law and Legislative, Institutional Finance and Credit Control, Consolidation, Rehabilitation and Industrial Training.

BJP’s Kisan Morcha chief O.P. Dhankar has been allotted Agriculture, Development and Panchayats, Irrigation, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Fisheries. Five-time legislator Anil Vij would be minister for Health and Medical Education, AYUSH, E.S.I., Election, Sports and Youth Affairs.

While Narbir Singh would look after Public Works (B&R) and Public Health Engineering, the only woman minister, Kavita Jain was allocated Social Justice and Empowerment, Women and Child Development along with Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. Minister of State with Independent charge Bikram Singh Thekedar has been entrusted with Cooperation, Printing and Stationery as well as Development and Panchayats.

Krishan Kumar was attached with respective ministers for Social Justice and Empowerment, Women and Child Development and Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. Karam Dev Kamboj was attached with the ministries for Food and Supplies, Transport, Tourism and Hospitality.