Itanagar:Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Wednesday expanded his ministry by inducting three and drop-ping one member into his seven-month-old council of ministry in a simple function held at Raj Bhawan, here.
The three newly-appointed Ministers are- Wanglin Lowangdong, Rajesh Tacho and Thang-wang Wangham, while senior Minister and In-charge of Health Depart-ment Kalikho Pul has been dropped from the ministry.
There were 10 members, including Chief Minister in the Nabam Tuki ministry, while two seats remained vacant.All the members have got Cabinet rank.
Mr Tuki is serving the state as Chief Minister for the second consecutive term since November 2011, replacing former Chief Minister late Jarbom Gamlin through a political turmoil in the government.
Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma admini-stered the oath of office and secrecy to the legislators in the presence of Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs and other high government officials.
Earlier, Mr Lowangdong served as the Speaker of State Legislative Assembly in previous Tuki govern-ment. He was elected from Bordumsa-Diyun Assembly constituency in Changlang.
However, Rajesh Tacho, representing Anini Assem-bly segment in Dibang Valley district, was the Minister of Urban Develop-ment, Town Plan-ning and Fisheries in the earlier ministry, but did not get a berth in the present ministry.
While, Mr Wangham, who earlier, served as Parliamentary Secretary, Printing Department, has been newly inducted in the council of Minsitry. He was representing the Assembly from Longding-Pumao constituency under Longding district.
In the 60-member Legislative Assembly, Congress has 46 members, BJP’s has 11 members and Independents two. One seat is vacant following the death of former CM Jarbom Gamlin due to liver thrombosis on November 30. He was elected on INC ticket from Liromoba constituency in West Sinag district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Portfolios of the new inducted Ministers will be allotted by this evening, informed Mr Tuki, on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony. (UNI)
