Is Chhattisgarh's Cabinet Expansion Finally Happening?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The cabinet expansion in Chhattisgarh is officially announced.
- Swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 10:30 AM on Wednesday.
- Current cabinet has only 11 ministers, three short of the constitutional limit.
- Strategic timing aligns with the Chief Minister's international engagements.
- Political tensions are emerging ahead of the reshuffle.
Raipur, Aug 19 (NationPress) The much-awaited cabinet expansion in Chhattisgarh has been confirmed, with the swearing-in ceremony set to take place at 10:30 AM on Wednesday at Raj Bhavan.
BJP’s legislative whip Sushant Shukla made the announcement, and invitations have been sent to all party MLAs for the event.
This expansion comes at a crucial time, just days before Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai heads abroad to attend the Osaka World Expo 2025 and engage in investment discussions under the Chhattisgarh Investment Authority.
Currently, there are only 11 ministers in the cabinet—three less than the constitutional limit for a 90-member assembly—making this reshuffle essential to achieving full cabinet strength.
Late-night discussions on Monday reportedly finalized the list of new members. Expected inductees include Durg MLA Gajendra Yadav, Arang MLA Khuswant Saheb, and Rajendra Agarwal from Ambikapur.
Also strong contenders are Gomti Sai from Pathalgaon (Jashpur), Amar Agarwal from Bilaspur, and Indra Kumar Sahu from Abhanpur, all of whom have recently met with the Chief Minister, fueling speculation.
The reshuffle is viewed as a delicate balancing act to fill vacancies while ensuring representation across various regions and castes within the party. In the meantime, political tensions remain high.
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel criticized the process on social media, claiming the ministerial list was being compiled in Ahmedabad instead of Raipur, labeling it as “an insult to Chhattisgarh.”
Moreover, Speaker of the Assembly and former CM Raman Singh was in Delhi on Tuesday, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, adding another layer of intrigue to the situation.
While there is speculation regarding a senior minister's potential reassignment to an organizational role, no official confirmation has been provided.
The ceremony is expected to align with Governor Ramen Deka’s schedule, though final details remain unclear.
All attention is now on Raj Bhavan as the political scene in Chhattisgarh gears up for a significant reshuffle.