Karan Singh inducted as cabinet minister in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA: Karan Singh, Congress MLA from Banjar constituency in Kullu district, was today inducted as cabinet minister in the Virbhadra Singh government.

He was administered oath of office and secrecy by Governor Acharya Devvrat at Raj Bhawan this morning.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, his cabinet colleagues, Congress MLAs, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of boards and corporations as well as senior officers were present on the occasion.

However, BJP MLAs and Maheshwar Singh, lone HLP MLA from Kullu and elder brother of Karan, were not present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Karan Singh (58) has been allocated Cooperation and Ayurveda portfolio, held by the chief minister. There was no shuffling in portfolios of other ministers.

The strength of the ministry including, the chief minister, has now risen to 12, which is the maximum limit and no further expansion is possible.

Karan, who hails from royal family of Kullu, is a three time MLA from Banjar. First elected in 1990 on BJP ticket, Karan won from this seat again in 1998 and was inducted as Minister of State for Primary Education in the BJP-HVC ministry headed by former chief minister P K Dhumal.

He left the BJP ahead of 2007 polls and contested unsuccessfully on BSP ticket. Later, he joined the Congress and was elected again in 2012 assembly polls.

Following his induction, Kullu district has got representation in the ministry.