The Shivraj Singh Chouhan led Madhya Pradesh cabinet is expanding today with some of the former Congress MLAs who joined the BJP in March acquiring ministerial berths. Sources with the Bharatiya Janata Party had earlier claimed about two dozen new ministers will be inducted.
The oath of office was administered by Governor Anandiben Patel at Raj Bhawan. Patel, who is Uttar Pradesh governor, has been given additional charge as Madhya Pradesh governor in view of incumbent Lalji Tandon’s hospitalisation. Patel took oath as MP Governor earlier in the day.
Among those who took oath at the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal in the presence of Governor Anandiben Patel were BJP leader and former minister Gopal Bhargava, former minister Vijay Shah, senior BJP MLA Jagdish Devda, former Congress leader Bisahulal Singh, Yashodhara Raje Scindia, former minister Bhupendra Singh, former Congress leader Aidal Singh Kansana, Brijendra Pratap Singh and Vishwas Sarang.
The next set of leaders to take oath were loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose rebellion brought down the previous Congress-led government. Imarti Devi, Dr Prabhuram Chaudhar, Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, Pradyumna Singh Tomar, Rajyavardhan Singh were among those from the Scindia camp who took oath.
The list of 28 minister who are going to join party today is out:
The Uttar Pradesh Governor, has been given additional charge as Madhya Pradesh Governor in view of incumbent Lalji Tandon’s hospitalisation. Patel took oath as Madhya Pradesh Governor earlier in the day.
When asked about the delay in cabinet expansion, state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan avoided a direct reply and turned to mythology.
“Only ‘amrit’ (elixir) comes out of ‘manthan’ (churning), vish (poison) is consumed by (Lord) Shiva,” the 61-year-old BJP leader said without elaborating but indicating the difficult task before him.
The initial “mini” expansion of the Chouhan cabinet took place on April 21 with the induction of five ministers, including two former Congress MLAs close to Scindia — Tulsi Silawat and Govind Singh Rajput.
Chouhan took oath as chief minister for a record fourth term on March 23 this year, after Kamal Nath resigned from the post following rebellion by 22 MLAs of the Congress.
