A day after BJP’s impressive victory on 19 seats in the Madhya Pradesh bypolls, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called on Governor Anandiben Patel on Wednesday, triggering speculation about another cabinet expansion.
“Met Governor Anandiben Patel Ji at Raj Bhavan and apprised her of the success and mandate in the by-election. She gave best wishes and blessings. I express my heartfelt gratitude for her invaluable good wishes,” Chouhan tweeted after the visit.
Sources in BJP said the bypoll victory has raised Chouhan’s political stature but he now has more challenges as well. The first challenge before Chouhan is to expand his team and accommodate the loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia in various boards and corporations.
Three ministers lost the bypolls, including two Scindia loyalists who joined the saffron party after quitting Congress in March this year. There was already one post vacant, so four ministers can now be accommodated in Chouhan’s team. But there are seven claimants, which means another round of push and pull. With 15 of 22 Scindia loyalists winning, BJP now has to figure out how many can be accommodated in the cabinet. Team Scindia members are also going to be assigned party responsibility, sources said.
Related Posts
Add A Comment