Dehra Dun:
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today announced portfolios for Harak Singh Rawat, who was inducted as the 11th minister in the state cabinet three days ago.
At a press conference in Dehra Dun, Vijay Bahuguna said he was giving portfolios of agriculture, agriculture marketing, agriculture education, medical education and Sainik welfare to Harik Singh Rawat.
The portfolio for agriculture was held by Mantri Prasad Naithani, an independent MLA from Devprayag, who has now been awarded the portfolios of school education and potable water.
The other portfolios given to Mr Rawat were earlier held by the Chief Minister.
Mr Bahuguna also said the portfolios of other ministers would be reshuffled after he was elected to the Vidhan Sabha in the July 8 Sitarganj assembly by-election.
"There would be a comprehensive reshuffle in the responsibilities of ministers after the process of my election to the Vidhan Sabha is over", Mr Bahuguna said.
The Chief Minister also gave new responsibilities to six other MLAs including one from BSP and another independent. He said Khanpur MLA Kunwar Pranab Singh Champion has been made Chairman of Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation.
Independent MLA from Tehri, Dinesh Dhanai, has been appointed as Chairman of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, while BSP MLA from Manglore Sarbat Karim Ansari has been made chairman of the state housing board.
Besides, three MLAs- Vijaypal Sajwan (Gangotri), Ganesh Godiyal (Srinagar) and Narayan Ram Arya (Gangolihaat)- have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries.
To a question, Mr Bahuguna said he will file his nomination papers for the assembly by-election tomorrow. However, he appealed to the Congress leaders and workers not to rush to Sitarganj for canvassing in his favour until the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee finalised their programme for the purpose.
Dismissing suggestions that his appeal has come due to his fears of "backstabbing" (Bhitarghat) in Sitarganj by his own party men, Mr Bahuguna said he would emerge victorious in the assembly by-election.