DHARAMSHALA, December 26: The exile Tibetan administration congratulated “long-time supporter of Tibetans” Virbhadra Singh on his swearing-in as Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister for a record sixth term.
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people, wished the septuagenarian a successful tenure and said Tibetans are “eternally grateful” to India and in particular the Himachali people. Dharamshala, in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, is the exile home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and headquarters of the Tibetan administration.
“You have always been a long-time supporter of Tibetans and the issue of Tibet throughout your five-decade long career,” Sikyong Sangay said in a release Tuesday. “We look forward to see a further strengthening of your Government’s support for the issue of Tibet under your leadership.”
The 78-year-old took oath at the historic Ridge in the state’s capital Shimla on Tuesday at 10:40 am heading a ten-member ministry.
Among the Cabinet ministers, who took oath, were senior Congress leaders Vidya Stokes, Kaul Singh Thakur and G S Bali, Sujan Singh Pathania, Thakur Singh Bharmauri, Mukesh Agnihotri, Prakash Chowdhary, Dhani Ram Shandil, and Sudhir Sharma, the local MLA from Dharamshala.
Led by Singh, the Congress wrested power from BJP, winning 36 seats in the 68-member Assembly in the recent elections.
The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile also felicitated Singh on his re-election.
Speaker Penpa Tsering, in a congratulatory note, wished Singh success in his endeavours and said Tibetans have “always been very appreciative of your support for the Tibetan people and the cause of Tibet.”
Singh was Chief Minister between 1983 and 1985; 1985 and 1990; 1993 and 1998 and 2003 and 2007.
In his five-decade-long political career, he has been a seven-time MLA and a five-time MP and has also served in the Indian cabinet as a union minister.
