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Why Shivraj Chouhan is gearing to expand state cabinet ahead of 2018 Assembly polls

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Rahul Noronha
Rahul NoronhaAug 26, 2017 | 11:22

Why Shivraj Chouhan is gearing to expand state cabinet ahead of 2018 Assembly polls

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been given the green signal by BJP president Amit Shah to carry out a cabinet expansion in the state, his last before the state goes to polls in the end of 2018. Madhya Pradesh has a legislative assembly of 230 members and the state can have a 35 strong cabinet. Presently, there are 29 ministers, including the CM. This gives the CM the option of filling up six positions with fresh blood.

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The last cabinet expansion in MP, in June 2016, had thrown up unexpected situations. For one, the commercial capital of the state, Indore, perceived to be the sphere of influence of both speaker Sumitra Mahajan and BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, did not get any representation in the cabinet. On the other hand, two ministers in the cabinet were selected from Bhopal city.

Secondly, the expansion in June led to the inclusion of two former Congress MLAs, Sanjay Pathak and Harsh Singh, giving the impression to the rank and file that loyalists were not being rewarded while defectors had a field day. Thirdly, the last expansion resulted in the dropping of former CM Babulal Gaur, the then home minister, and PWD minister Sartaj Singh. The CM was on record then saying that he did not want them to be axed but had to enforce the above 75-no-cabinet -position rule.

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Last week, BJP president Amit Shah, while in Bhopal, embarrassed the CM by announcing that there was never any such rule in the party. This has given an opportunity to Babulal Gaur and Sartaj Singh — the lone Sikh in the cabinet — to know why they were dropped as there were no allegations of corruption or inefficiency on them.

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As far as regional representation goes, the Malwa and central region has 12 ministers, the Gwalior-Chambal region has six ministers while Bundelkhand has five. However, the Baghelkhand and Mahakoshal regions have only three ministers each. It is from this region that the Congress is expected to pose a tougher challenge in the polls.

The cabinet expansion coming as it does before the assembly polls will not be an easy exercise for the CM. In case he goes about addressing regional imbalances, he may have to ask for the resignation of certain ministers. Also, Gaur and Sartaj Singh are expecting tickets if not re-induction in the cabinet, ever since Amit Shah announced that those above the age of 75 are still useful for the party. Refusal to do so would be difficult for Chouhan given that both leaders have been winning for many terms.

The cabinet expansion is a tightrope walk for Chouhan. He has been a veteran of many, but that doesn’t take away the stress that comes with it.

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)

Last updated: August 26, 2017 | 11:22
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