Amidst threats from the BJP to the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, the Kamal Nath led Congress government is planning to expand its cabinet, accommodating allies and offering chance to some party men to be part of the government.
The cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place in June first week. The move comes close on the heels of an emphatic defeat of the ruling Congress party where the grand old party lost on 28 seats winning just one through Nakul Nath in Chhindwara.
With the ruling party facing a rout at the hands of opposition BJP, rumours turned abuzz that the principal opposition party could intensify efforts to align with Congress allies to topple the Kamal Nath government.
However, several senior BJP ministers including former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has rejected allegations that the BJP was engaging in horse trading to woo Congress MLAs and bring down the state government.
Meanwhile, to keep his flock together, the Chief Minister could induct some senior partymen who are said to be upset with their exclusion from the cabinet while the cabinet could include some sulking allies comprising BSP, SP and three independents.
Those in the forefront of the opposition over ministerial berths include BSP firebrand MLA Rambai Singh and former Congress leader Surendra Singh Thakur who had trounced senor BJP leader and the former minister Archana Chitnis in Burhanpur.
Some of the ministers who failed to leave their impact in the last few months of governance could also be axed from cabinet to make room for senior MLAs. These include – Lakhan Ghanghoria, Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist Pradyumn Singh Tomar, Mahendra Sisodia, Harsh Yadav and Sukhdev Panse.
With the dismal show in Lok Sabha polls, CM Kamal Nath is expected to clip wings of Scindia loyalists and either Lakhan Singh Yadav or Imarti Devi could also be relieved from the cabinet to accommodate fresh faces.
Those likely to be included in the cabinet include –BSP’s Rambai Singh and Sanjeev Singh Kushwah, SP’s lone MLA Rajesh Shukla, Congress MLA and Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti national convener Heeralal Alawa, Congress rebels and the independent MLAs – Surendra Singh Thakur and Kedar Chidabhai Davar. Dr Alawa who claims sizable backing in tribal pockets in Malwa and Nimar was quite vocal over denial of cabinet berth last year.