By IANS,
Shimla: Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Saturday expressed hope that the elevation of Anand Sharma to cabinet rank in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government would benefit Himachal Pradesh, his home state.
“We hope Sharma’s presence in the union cabinet would ensure all-round development of the state through more liberal central assistance and schemes. Such assistance would justify the special category status given to the state,” Dhumal told reporters here.
“Now, we expect him to take all pending issues to the logical conclusion,” Dhumal added.
Sharma, a Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha, was minister of state for external affairs in Manmohan Singh’s previous government and also held independent charge of the information and broadcasting ministry after Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was hospitalised following a stroke. He is was one of the 19 cabinet ministers sworn in Friday but his portfolio is yet to be announced.