Himachal Pradesh cabinet to be expanded on Sunday: Reports

Earlier, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu told that he has handed over the list of potential ministers to the party high command and he is the final authority in this matter.

The deliberations included Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress President Rahul GandhiAll India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Himachal Pradesh is Rajiv Shukla and senior party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Priyanka Gandhi addressed several rallies in Himachal Pradesh and was instrumental in attracting women voters.

The decision was taken after several closed-door meetings between party leaders in Delhi, After the formation of the cabinet, initially only Chief Minister Sukhu and his deputy Mukesh Agnihotri were sworn in as the cabinet issue was sensitive to the newly formed government.

The party has to cater to several regional and caste factors and also look towards inducting old and new faces.

The number of ministers in Himachal Pradesh cannot cross 12 and there are 10 vacancies left in the cabinet after the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.

The chief minister holds finance, general administration, home, planning, personnel and all other portfolios not allocated to a minister, while Mukesh Agnihotri holds the portfolios of Jal Shakti, Transport and Languages, Art and Culture.

When it comes to regional representation, currently three of the 12 districts have representation in the government. Chief Minister Sukhu comes from Hamirpur, Deputy Chief Minister Agnihotri from Una and Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania from Chamba.

Party sources have said that the cabinet will represent all sections of the society and will also include professionals and young politicians.

(With inputs from PTI)