After months of vacillation and suspense, Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh on Wednesday expanded his ministry, inducting 20 ministers -- 11 from his coalition partner, the Janata Dal (Secular), and nine from the Congress.
Carrying out the much delayed expansion, Singh met the December 15 deadline set by the JD (S), whose legislators were upset over the delay.
Eighteen ministers inducted were of cabinet rank, nine each from the Congress and JD (S). Two JD (S) members joined as ministers of state.
Governor T N Chaturvedi administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at the portals of the state secretariat.
The strength of the Dharam Singh ministry has now risen to 32. Singh said at a press conference after an informal cabinet meeting that he would induct two more shortly.
He did not explain why the Congress chose to keep in abeyance the induction of two ministers from its side.
Admitting the delay in the expansion of his ministry, Singh attributed it to political events like elections to the legislative council and the Bidar Lok Sabha by-poll.
