In what could be the last big Cabinet expansion before the State Assembly elections due later this year, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to expand his Cabinet on Wednesday. This would take place at Governor House at around 7 pm.
Those in the know of the new development, said that former Minister Vijay Shah, who had earlier quit over his alleged sexist remarks, would be re-inducted in the new Cabinet. Sources claimed that two more legislators might be inducted in the Cabinet and two State ministers might be promoted to Cabinet rank.
Before leaving for his third phase of Jan Ashirvad Yatra, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had met Governor Ram Naresh Yadav at his residence around 10 am, after which it was decided that the swearing-in ceremony would take place around 7 pm on Wednesday, sources added.
According to BJP sources, it was a prestige issue for Vijay Shah since he wanted to hoist the Tri-colour in his constituency on Independence Day, following which the programme was scheduled on August 14.
Vijay Shah had resigned from the Cabinet as Tribal Welfare Minister following a controversy over his alleged sexist remark against Chouhan’s wife a few months back. However, recently, in the same Jhabua district, where Shah had made such remarks, the Chief Minister in a public function gave clean chit to Shah, stating that he was ‘innocent’.
Besides Shah, names of senior party MlA Gyan Singh, former Minister Kamal Patel and Kedar Shukla are also doing the rounds in the political circles for induction into the Cabinet. However, sources claimed that consensus could not be reached on other names.
The party sources also said that Minister of State for SC/ST Welfare Harishankar Khatik and Tourism and Youth Welfare Minister Brijendra Pratap Singh might be elevated to the Cabinet rank.
Since, Assembly elections are approaching fast, the ruling BJP is making efforts to accommodate maximum number of ministers in the Cabinet. Party sources said the final round of consideration would be held on Wednesday morning after the Cabinet meeting. The Chief Minister would discuss the probable names with State BJP president Narendra Singh Tomar and senior party leader Anil Dave, before taking a final decision.
As per the strength of the State Assembly, on the basis of 230 members in the House, there can be maximum 35 ministers in the Cabinet, including the Chief Minister. At present, besides Chief Minister, there are 21 Cabinet and nine State ministers. In the present situation, four new faces can be included in the Cabinet.