New Congress ministry all set to take over administration

Aizawl, Jan 18 : The Congress ministry in Mizoram is all set to take over administration with most of the newly inducted ministers assuming their respective offices after the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Chief Minister Lalthanhawla, who is currently in New Delhi, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday, who assured him of all support to uplift the poor in the state.

''The people of your state are hopefully looking up to the new Congress ministry. The Centre will give all possible assistance to remove poverty in your state,'' Mr Singh told the Chief Minister.

Mr Lalthanhawla is scheduled to attend the Home Minister-headed Chief Ministers' meeting today and North Eastern Council meeting tomorrow in New Delhi. Besides, he is planning to meet as many Union Ministers as possible.

Besides the 12 ministers, including him, Mr Lalthanhawla has created six parliamentary secretary posts of minister of state rank which is a new thing in Mizoram. The parliamentary secretaries have been allocated to Chief Minister, Home Minister, Agriculture Minister, Law Minister, Health Minister and Industries Minister.