The Union Council of Ministers was expanded on Monday with the induction of four cabinet ministers and four Ministers of State(MOS). The ministers who were inducted as Cabinet Ministers are Sisram Ola, Oscar Fernandes, Girija Vyas and Dr K S Rao. Mr. Fernandes has been given the charge of Road Transport and Highways Ministry, Girija Vyas got Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Sis Ram Ola, Labour and Employment Ministry and K S Rao, Textiles Ministry. Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge will be the new Minister for Railways.

Manikrao Gavit has been made Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Santosh Chowdhury, MoS Health and Family Welfare, Jesudasu Seelam,MoS Finance and E M S Natchiappan, MoS Commerce and Industry. The newly inducted Ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Pranab Mukherjee at a function in Rashtrpati Bhawan on Monday evening.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers and senior congress leaders were also present on the occasion.

AIR correspondent reports the expansion-cum-reshuffle of the Council of Ministers was necessitated by the exit of DMK Ministers as well as resignation of Pawan Kumar Bansal, Ashwani Kumar, Ajay Maken and Dr. C P Joshi.