7 first-timers among 8 new Haryana ministers

Nayab Singh Saini-led Haryana govt carried out its first cabinet expansion, with eight BJP ministers - seven of them first-timers - taking oath at a state-level function. Induction of Hisar MLA Kamal Gupta as cabinet minister for the second time, Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel, Thanesar (Kurukshetra) MLA Subhash Sudha, Bawani Khera (reserved) MLA Bishambar Balmiki, Nangal Chaudhary MLA Rao Abhay Singh Yadav, Badkhal MLA Seema Trikha, Sohna MLA Sanjay Singh and Panipat (rural) MLA Mahipal Dhanda as ministers of state (MoS) with independent charge took govt’s council of ministers to 14. On March 12, besides Saini, other ministers who took oath included Rania independent MLA Ranjit Singh Chautala, Mool Chand Sharma, Jai Parkash Dalal, Banwari Lal and Kanwar Pal Gujjar, all BJP MLAs. Portfolios will be allocated soon. By ignoring Independents, ex-home and health minister Anil Vij and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, BJP has sent out a clear message of not budging to any pressure.