Itanagar, Nov. 2: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu has inducted four new faces but dropped two former ministers in his 12-member cabinet.

Governor J.J. Singh today administered the oath of office to 11 ministers.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Khandu who was sworn in on October 25, said that portfolios would be allocated on Friday.

He, however, did not cite any reason for denying ministerial berths to C.C. Singpho and Newlai Tingkhatra who were the health and the forest ministers in the previous government. According to sources, Singpho is likely to be given the post of parliamentary secretary.

“The portfolios of all 11 ministers sworn in today will be known only on November 6. As far as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are concerned, the AICC will decide,” Khandu said.

The new faces are former Speaker and party MLA from Nampong, Setong Sena, former Deputy Speaker and Dumporijo MLA, Takar Marde, legislator from Ponchau-Wakka Honchun Ngandam and Pasighat MLA Bosiram Siram.

The major surprise, however, is the induction of Siram who is likely to be made the education minister. Khandu sprang another surprise by inducting Ngandam from the trouble-torn Tirap district bordering Nagaland in his ministry.

According to Congress insiders, portfolio allocation has been delayed because of “discord” over departments like home for which the chief minister is still looking for the right candidate. Sources said former home minister Jarbom Gamlin is likely to be given the power department while either Khandu or Chomna Mein, who served the previous ministry as agriculture minister, will keep the home portfolio.

Nabam Tuki, who was PWD and urban development minister, is likely to retain his portfolio while Sena looks set to be the finance minister.

Former finance minister Kalikho Pul is likely to take charge of the water resources development department. His predecessor, Tako Dabi, the seniormost minister in the Khandu cabinet, is likely to be given the irrigation and flood control department.

Marde could take charge of the social welfare department while his predecessor Tanga Byaling may assume charge of the public health engineering department.

Former sports minister Atum Welly looks set to be the health minister while newly-inducted Ngandam is likely to take charge of the sports department.