Haryana ministers' wait for portfolios continues

Nearly three days after being sworn-in, Haryana ministers continued to wait for portfolios being alloted to them. The newly-inducted ministers in the Manohar Lal Khattar government were on Tuesday alloted official rooms in the state secretariat. However, their wait for the portfolios continued. Haryana Minister Ram Bilas Sharma told reporters here that there was no delay in allotting the portfolios and the Chief Minister would take a decision in this regard soon.

He did not agree that the delay in allotting the portfolios was due to some ministers seeking departments of their own choice. Several ministers on Tuesday toured their respective assembly constituencies and gave directions to the officials concerned on various issues, even though portfolios were yet to be alloted to them. The nine ministers that include six Cabinet ministers and three ministers of state including one having independent charge continued to be without departments. On Monday, the Ministers also attended their first Cabinet meeting here which was presided over by the Chief Minister.

The portfolios had not been alloted to them as of 10:30 PM on Tuesday. 60-year-old Khattar had taken oath as the first Chief Minister of the BJP government in the state on October 26 at Panchkula, the ceremony which was attended by a galaxy of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and L K Advani. The nine Ministers had also taken the oath at the ceremony in Panchkula on Sunday. The Chief Minister is yet to make appointment of his aides.