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MP cabinet expansion: Scindia drives hard bargain, new ministers still without portfolios
Jul-08-2020

Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had a smooth sailing in his first three terms between 2005 and 2018 when the BJP had a comfortable majority in the Assembly, is having a tough time in his fourth innings as the chief minister.

Expected to allocate portfolios to the newly inducted ministers after returning from New Delhi, Chouhan could not do so on the last day. Before leaving for Delhi a couple of days ago, he had said that he would allocate portfolios immediately on his return.

Twenty-eight ministers including 12 former Congress legislators were inducted into his ministry on July 2 but five days on, they are still without portfolio. Most of the former Congress MLAs are loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is learnt to be demanding key ministries for them. Many BJP legislators who were Cabinet ministers in Chouhan’s previous ministries want portfolios on a par with their seniority.


The tussle between the Chouhan camp and Scindia had reportedly delayed the ministry expansion, and now it seems to have impacted portfolio allocation. Chouhan had worked alone from March 23 and inducted five ministers on April 21, including Scindia loyalists Tulsiram Silawat and Govind Rajput. Chouhan had camped in Delhi before last week’s ministry expansion and had to extend his stay for discussions on portfolio allocation.


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