Chhattisgarh got just one ministerial berth and that too of a Minister of State (MoS) in the Narendra Modi Cabinet which took oath of office and secrecy at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday in New Delhi.
Raigarh MP Vishnudev Sai was sworn in as Minister of State (MoS). Although speculation was rife that former Union Minister and MP from Raipur Ramesh Bais may be inducted, but his name was not announced drawing resentment among his supporters. Sai, currently the party president of Chhattisgarh BJP is a four times MP. He was considered very close to former Union Minister late Dilip Singh Judeo.
The BJP had wrested 10 out of 11 lok Sabha seats in the just concluded polls and many had hoped that the State would get atleast two berths in the Union Cabinet.Party sources said it was the BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) Ram lal and BJP’s National General Secretary and Chhatisgarh In-charge JP Nadda who played a key role behind the induction of Sai in the Union Cabinet.
The name of Ramesh Bais was prominently discussed in the party circles as he was a Minister of State (Independent charge) in the National Democratic Alliance Government previously at the Centre.He has been elected to the lok Sabha for the seventh term. It came as a disappointment for a large number of Bais’s supporters who are currently camping in New Delhi.