Chhattisgarh gets its first 14-member cabinet, 3 BJP MLAs inducted as ministers
Governor Ramen Deka administered oath of office and secrecy to BJP legislators Gajendra Yadav, Rajesh Agrawal and Guru Khushwant Saheb at Raj Bhavan in presence of chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, assembly speaker Raman Singh and other ministers.
This is the first time in past 25 years that Chhattisgarh cabinet has got 14 members as all previous cabinets had 13 members for a 90-member assembly. After the implementation of a 15% ceiling on the total strength of assembly and adopting the "Haryana model" that has 14 ministers in 90 member assembly, Chhattisgarh too decided to have 14 members in its cabinet.
This full cabinet now has three tribals including CM, two Scheduled Caste, seven OBCs, one Brahmin and one Vaishya.
Guru Khushwant Saheb who represents Aarang constituency, is from the influential and powerful Satnami family with the community up in arms since Baloda Bazar collectorate arson and violence case last year.
Gajendra Yadav comes from Durg constituency, is son of the previous RSS state head and his non-inclusion in the first cabinet had surprised everyone.
Minister Rajesh Agrawal from Ambikapur constituency, was a Congressman till a few years back, represents Surguja which is a hot bed of coal mines and Hasdeo forests.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Redefine Your Future with a Top Online MBA
SRM Online
Enquire Now
Undo
Two main tribal regions of Chhattisgarh, Bastar in south had given eight out of 12 MLAs to BJP and there's just one minister from the division, while in north of state - Surguja division- has a huge share, with five ministers from the division, including chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
All stalwarts of BJP legislative party are left outside the cabinet as if they are designated to 'margdarshak mandal.'
In its report on Wednesday, TOI had highlighted that the updated cabinet would be the first 14- member cabinet of the state, since its inception.
Out of 14, there are just three members who have served cabinet in previous govts, hence, fresh blood has been promoted by the party with chief minister Sai also the first-time minister.
The big question in Chhattisgarh's political scenario is whether the three new ministers will be allotted surplus portfolios with the CM or there would be some reshuffle of the departments among existing ministers.
The expansion puts an end to endless political speculation of the last several months that some ministers may be dropped.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
a few seconds ago
- Hindustan Times
BJP's UP allies put up show of strength, unity in Delhi
In a show of strength and unity amid a buzz over the expansion of the Yogi Adityanath cabinet and long-pending demands, the BJP's Uttar Pradesh allies, including the Nishad Party, SBSP, RLD, and Apna Dal (S), gathered in Delhi to assert their presence and set the tone for political bargaining ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Claiming that they are the PDA within the NDA, representing OBC and Dalit communities, the alliance partners sent a clear message to the BJP that their voices should not be ignored. (For representation only) The occasion was the national convention of the Nishad party. The event was held at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday to mark the party's 10th foundation day. Sharing the stage were Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, Apna Dal (Sonelal) vice president Ashish Patel, and Rashtriya Lok Dal national general secretary Chandan Rajbhar and Patel are also ministers in the Yogi government. Claiming that they are the PDA within the NDA, representing OBC and Dalit communities, the alliance partners sent a clear message to the BJP that their voices should not be ignored. 'Parties that ignored us have been voted out of power,' they declared. Along with an increased share in the ministry, the leaders emphasised that issues of rights and reservation must be addressed on priority. The RLD has already submitted a list of assembly constituencies to the BJP where it intends to field candidates in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Several of these seats are currently held by BJP MLAs. Tensions recently escalated over the Chhata seat in Mathura district, following a heated exchange between sugarcane development minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and RLD leaders. During a recent visit to Mathura, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary announced that his party would contest the Chhata seat held by Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary. Meanwhile, both the SBSP and the Nishad Party have declared their intention to field candidates in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Nishad said, 'The convention is a symbol of the determination and unity of the allies. Our biggest issue is reservation and Constitutional rights. This is the dream of our generations, and we will achieve it at any cost. Until our society gets its due rights, this struggle will continue.' 'Our struggle is not limited to Delhi or Lucknow; this fight will reach every village, every street, and every home of Uttar Pradesh. If our society remains united, no power can deny us our Constitutional rights. This is not just the fight of one person or one party. This is the struggle of the entire Nishad community. We all must move forward with unity. Organisation is our biggest strength. If our people can come to Delhi, they can also march to surround the assembly in Lucknow,' he said. Rajbhar said the so-called PDA leaders had only exploited backward and Scheduled Castes, including Nishad, Kevat, Mallah, Bind, Kashyap, Bhar, Rajbhar, Patel, Kurmi and Jat. 'For 70 years, the Congress and for 19 years, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party discriminated against our castes. They have been voted out of power. The massive gathering at the stadium shows our strength and the message is clear that if we are denied representation and rights, then we will take the fight from Delhi to Lucknow,' he said Ashish Patel said the massive turnout and enthusiasm represent the real strength of the Nishad party and allies. 'The Nishad party is no longer alone, all our allied parties stand firmly with them,' he said. RLD leader Chandan Chauhan invoked the legacy of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and his son Ajit Singh, who championed the rights of farmers and backward classes. 'The unity shown by the Nishad community in Delhi is historic. Rashtriya Lok Dal and our president Jayant Chaudhary stand firmly with the Nishad Party in its fight for rights and reservation,' he said.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
US appeals court backs Trump admin: Halts TPS relief for 60,000 migrants; Nepal, Honduras in focus
Representative image (agencies) A US federal appeals court on Wednesday stayed a lower court's order that had temporarily protected around 60,000 migrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal from deportation. The decision, issued by the 9th US circuit court of appeals in San Francisco, supports the Trump administration's move to end temporary protected status (TPS) for these groups, reported news agency AP. The three-judge panel, comprising appointees of Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Trump, granted the emergency stay, pausing the earlier July 31 ruling by US district judge Trina L Thompson. Her order had blocked the administration's attempt to terminate TPS, citing a lack of "objective review of the country conditions" in places like Honduras and Nicaragua. TPS shields migrants from deportation and allows them to work legally in the US It can be extended by the secretary of homeland security in cases of war, natural disasters, or unsafe political conditions in a migrant's home country. Secretary Kristi Noem had determined that conditions no longer justified TPS for 51,000 Hondurans and 3,000 Nicaraguans, with protections set to expire September 8. TPS for 7,000 Nepalis was scheduled to end August 5. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo The migrants had lived in the US for over two decades following Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Immigration advocates, including the national TPS Alliance, have challenged the decision, alleging it was politically driven and racially motivated. At a Tuesday hearing, US Deputy assistant attorney general Drew Ensign argued the government faced 'irreparable harm' if blocked from implementing its policies. Responding to criticism, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, 'TPS was never meant to be a de facto asylum system, yet that is how previous administrations have used it for decades.' The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 18. The Trump administration has also moved to terminate TPS for migrants from several other countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Cameroon. Some of those decisions are under litigation.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
NGO seeks reduction in CLAT fees
Nagpur: The Association of Social and RTI Activists (Asra) has urged the Consortium of National Law Universities to reduce the high examination fees for Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), stating that it places a disproportionate burden on aspirants from economically weaker backgrounds. In a letter to the consortium, Asra president Sanjay Thul pointed out that the current fees of Rs4,000 for general category candidates and Rs3,500 for SC/ST candidates is significantly higher compared to other national-level examinations such as UPSC civil services and SSC exams, which charge only Rs100 or are free for reserved categories. "CLAT is a gateway to prestigious National Law Universities, which play a pivotal role in shaping legal profession in India. However, the high fees creates a barrier to access for many deserving candidates, especially in a country where a significant proportion of the population earns modest incomes," the letter stated. For context, the average annual per capita income in India is about Rs1.8 lakh, making the CLAT fees a substantial expense for families supporting multiple aspirants. The organisation proposed several reforms, including a tiered fee structure based on family income, enhanced fee waivers for SC/ST, EWS, and other marginalised groups, and greater transparency in how the collected fee is utilised. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, this game will keep you up all night. No Install. Play for free. Navy Quest Undo It also suggested exploring cost-effective measures to conduct the exam. "Reducing the CLAT fees will not only make legal education more accessible but also align with the govt's vision of ensuring affordable education for all," Thul said. Asra expressed willingness to collaborate with the consortium to develop sustainable solutions. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
