28 new ministers take oath in MP cabinet expansion, The Scindia Impact
BHOPAL: 28 new ministers on Thursday joined the saffron BJP led Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh. The new ministers were administered the oath of office an secrecy by Governor Anandiben Patel at the Raj Bhawan in Bhopal in the presence of CM Shivraj and party’ Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia.
This was the second Cabinet expansion since Shivraj made a dramatic return to the helm of state affairs on March 23. Shivraj had earlier in April inducted five ministers in the Cabinet.
A significant number of former Congress leaders among them established Jyotiraditya Scindia’s stamp in the cabinet expansion that had been delayed for months over the fight for ministries. Several loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia, a long-time Congress leader who switched to the BJP in March, were among the ministers sworn in today. Mr Scindia’s aunt Yashodhara Raje Scindia, a BJP leader, was also included in the cabinet.
According to sources Shivraj Singh Chouhan was forced to stand down on many candidates he had suggested to the party leadership.
The MP cabinet was expanded on Thursday with the induction of 28 ministers, including a dozen loyalists of BJP MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose exit from the Congress in March led to falling of the Kamal Nath-led regime in the state.
The event was organised by following COVID-19 protocols. Those inducted include 20 cabinet ministers and eight ministers of state. Prominent among the new ministers are BJP MLAs Yashodhara Raje Scindia and Gopal Bhargava.
Chouhan took oath as chief minister for a record fourth term on March 23 this year, after Kamal Nath resigned from the post following a rebellion by 22 MLAs of the Congress.
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.
Prior to the second expansion of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s cabinet in Madhya Pradesh, former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said the struggle against injustice is the religion.
The BJP government has been formed due to Scindia’s support in the state. This is the reason that adequate importance is being given to Scindia supporters in the Shivraj cabinet. At the same time, Congress has been making several allegations on Scindia. His tweet is being considered as a response to Congress’ allegations.
“Manthan se toh amrit hi nikalta hai, vish toh Shiv pee jaatein hain (nectar is produced only when there is a churning, and Lord Shiv must drink the poison),” Mr Chouhan said on Wednesday. The statement, playing on the Chief Minister’s name, was interpreted as an admission that his new team may not include the ministers he wanted.
This morning, the Chief Minister tweeted a conciliatory message: “I congratulate all the ministers who took oath today. We all will work together to achieve our common goals of development and public welfare in Madhya Pradesh. I am confident that I will get your full support in bringing new reforms.”
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath seized the chance to aim a swipe at Mr Chouhan at the BJP. “I feel very sad at not finding many able, dedicated and senior BJP MLAs in today’s cabinet expansion,” the Congress leader tweeted in Hindi, reinforcing speculation that Mr Chouhan lost out in his very first tug-of-war with bitter rival-turned-colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia.
(Bureau Report with Agency Inputs ).
