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Nine ministers take oath in Uttaranchal

A nine-member council of ministers on Friday took oath in the new state of Uttaranchal, but the solemn occasion was marred by the absence of several MLAs, unhappy either at not being included in the government or at being offered portfolios they didn't want.

Uttaranchal's first chief minister, Nityanand Swami, left for Haridwar immediately after the swearing-in ceremony.

Five Cabinet rank ministers and four ministers of state were sworn in by Governor S S Barnala at a simple ceremony at Dehradun, the state's interim capital.

Three others - Ramesh Pokhriyal, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, and Narain Ramdas -- whose names were announced, did not turn up.

Four BJP legislators -- Bhushan Singh Chopal, Kishen Chand Punetha, Prakash Pant and Tilak Raj Behar - too did not attend the ceremony.

Kedar Singh Fonia, Marpat Singh Kandhari, Ajay Bhatt, Mohan Singh Rawat Gaonwasi and Banshidhar Bhagat were administered the oath of office and secrecy as Cabinet ministers, while Narain Singh Rana, Suresh Chandra Arya, Tirath Singh Rawat and Nirupama Gaur were sworn in as ministers of state.

The ministers took oath in Hindi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has 23 legislators in the 29-member Uttaranchal Assembly.

UNI

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