Thaindian News

Chandigarh, June 14 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Tuesday reshuffled his cabinet, making Harmohinder Singh Chatha the new finance minister, in place of Ajay Singh Yadav, who will now handle power.

Chatha will also be the irrigation and food and supplies minister, while Yadav will continue to be the forest and environment minister.

Randeep Singh Surjewala will hold charge of the ministries of industries and commerce, parliamentary affairs, science and technology and public works department (PWD).

Satpal Sangwan, who earlier had charge of the revenue department, will now handle cooperation and housing. Before this reshuffle, cooperation department was held by Chatha whereas housing ministry was with Hooda himself.

Revenue has gone to Mahender Pratap Singh, who will also have charge of rehabilitation and technical education ministries.

Kiran Chaudhary has retained the portfolios of excise and taxation and public health and engineering.

Paramvir Singh (agriculture), Geeta Bhukkal (education, social justice) and Narender Singh (health and medical education) are other cabinet ministers who retain their earlier portfolios.

Hooda has kept the portfolios of transport, tourism and civil aviation with himself.

O.P. Jain, who was the transport and tourism minister, was asked to resign after his name figured in the conspiracy to murder a former village headman in Karnal district.

Hooda has not given any indication on when he will induct a new minister in his cabinet to fill the vacancy caused by Jain’s resignation.