3 first-time BJP MLAs inducted as ministers, CG cabinet strengthens goes to 14
Governor Ramen Deka administered oath of office and secrecy to BJP legislators Gajendra Yadav, Rajesh Agrawal and Guru Khushwant Saheb at Raj Bhavan in the presence of chief minister Sai, assembly speaker Raman Singh and other ministers.
After the implementation of a 15% capping on the total strength of assembly and adopting the "Haryana model" that has 14 ministers in a 90-member assembly, Chhattisgarh too decided to have 14 members in its cabinet.
Guru Khushwant Saheb who represents Aarang constituency, is from the influential and powerful Satnami community that is up in arms against the govt since Baloda Bazar collectorate arson and violence case last year.
Gajendra Yadav hails from Durg constituency and is son of the former RSS state head and his non-inclusion in the first cabinet had surprised everyone.
Minister Rajesh Agrawal from Ambikapur constituency, was with the Congress till a few years ago and represents Surguja which is a hot bed of coal mines and Hasdeo forests. Agrawal had won the assembly seat after defeating senior Congress leader and then deputy CM T S Singh Deo in 2023 polls.
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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.
The BJP has left out all stalwarts and went ahead with young faces.
Out of 14, there are just three members who have served in the state cabinet in previous govts.
The expansion puts an end to endless political speculation of the last several months that some ministers may be dropped.
This full cabinet now has three tribals including CM Sai, Ramvichar Netam and Kedar Kashyap, two Scheduled Caste including Dayaldas Baghel and Saheb, and seven OBCs Arun Sao, Tank Ram Verma, Lakhan Lal Dewangan, Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, OP Choudhary, and Laxmi Rajwade , while two from general category includes Vijay Sharma and now Brijmohan Agrawal.
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