SHIMLA, Dec 23:
Virbhadra Singh, who steered Congress to power in Himachal Pradesh, will be sworn in as Chief Minister for the sixth time in a function at historic Ridge ground here on December 25.
Governor Urmilla Singh has invited the 78-year-old Congress leader to form Government and take oath on December 25.
Singh, however, would take oath alone and constitute the council of Ministers later after consulting the party high command.
Singh had a long meeting with AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, who was deputed as observer by the party high command for Congress Legislature Party (CLP), last evening and discussed several important issues.
Singh, after the election as CLP leader, told media persons that his Ministry would be a three-tier one and “fully representative”.
“All sections and regions, young and old would be included in the ministry,” he added.
When asked about the next Speaker of the State Assembly, Singh said he has three persons in mind but would not divulge the names at this time.
Congress has 36 MLAs in the 68-member House and one independent MLA has extended unconditional support to Singh.
Singh was Chief Minister between 1983 and 85; 1985 and 1990; 1993 and 1998 and 2003 and 2007.
In his five-decade long political innings, he has been a seven-time MLA, a five-time MP and five-time Chief Minister. He has also been a four-time President of the State Congress and represents the Mandi seat in the present Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, Singh left for Delhi this evening to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Issues related to the formation of new Cabinet are likely to be discussed in the meeting, sources said.
Some senior Congress leaders including Gangu Ram, Rangila Ram Rao, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Vijay Singh Mankotia and Subhash Mangalate, who seek strong contenders for ministerial berths were defeated in the polls.
Besides Speaker and Deputy Speaker, three or four Parliamentary secretaries would also be inducted, accommodating nearly 50 per cent of elected party MLAs, sources said.
Holley Lodge, private residence of Singh is humming with festivities and hundreds of people including large number of officers and employees are making a beeline for his house.
Independent MLA from Chopal in Shimla district Balbir Singh Verma extended unconditional support to Congress and said that the motive behind the move was to ensure the development of his constituency.
“I contested the Assembly polls as the development of Chopal had been neglected during the past 10 years,” he said.
Meanwhile, 1983 batch IAS officer, Principal Secretary V C Farka has been tipped as Principal Secretary to CM while another IAS officer J C Chauhan is likely to take charge as Principal Private Secretary, official sources said. (PTI)
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