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NDTV
20 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Limit Exceeded: Congress After BJP Inducts 3 More Ministers In Chhattisgarh
Raipur: The political atmosphere in Chhattisgarh has heated up following the expansion of the Vishnudev Sai-led BJP cabinet. For the first time since the formation of the state, the council of ministers has 14 ministers -- including the Chief Minister -- with the induction of three new faces. The move, however, has drawn sharp criticism from Congress's former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who questioned whether the Centre has given its approval for such an expansion. On Wednesday, Durg MLA Gajendra Yadav, Arang MLA Guru Khuswant Saheb, and Ambikapur MLA Rajesh Agarwal took oath as ministers. Their induction takes the total strength of the cabinet to 14, a departure from the traditional limit of 13. Political observers noted that the BJP has sought to woo OBC, Scheduled Caste and Vaishya voters by giving representation to these communities through the latest appointments. Bhupesh Baghel accused the BJP of making a "mockery" of constitutional provisions. "The rule clearly states that only 15 per cent of the MLAs can become ministers. When our government was in power, we had written to the Prime Minister requesting one additional minister, citing Chhattisgarh's vast geography, but the demand was rejected. Now the BJP has increased the cabinet size. Has the Government of India allowed this? Was there a gazette notification? If not, this expansion is unconstitutional," Mr Baghel said. He further alleged that the BJP was setting a "wrong tradition" by violating established norms. The BJP has defended the expansion with the same 15 per cent rule, saying with 90 members in the assembly, this translates to 14 ministers including the Chief Minister -- a model similar to that of Haryana. Each of the new ministers represents a strategic social group. Gajendra Yadav, son of former Prant Sanghchalak Bisaram Yadav, has been given the portfolios of School Education, Village Industry, and Law and Legislative Affairs. His inclusion is seen as an effort to consolidate the Yadav community vote. Guru Khuswant Saheb, a prominent Satnami leader and successor of Guru Baldas, will handle Skill Development, Technical Education, Employment and Scheduled Caste Development. His induction is expected to strengthen the BJP's hold on the influential Scheduled Caste vote bank. Rajesh Agarwal, who rose to prominence by defeating Congress veteran TS Singhdeo in Ambikapur, has been assigned Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs. His appointment marks a generational shift in the BJP's engagement with the business community. Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai welcomed the expansion, saying with a clear division of responsibilities, the cabinet was ready to serve Chhattisgarh Mahtari with "new energy and full commitment". The ministers, he said, would work to fulfil the aspirations of the people and contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India. Even as the BJP celebrates the balancing act in its cabinet composition, the legality of the expansion and Mr Baghel's pointed questions have set the stage for a political storm. With the Congress demanding clarity and the BJP asserting constitutional validity, the issue is expected to remain a flashpoint in state politics in the coming days.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
3 first-time BJP MLAs inducted as ministers, CG cabinet strengthens goes to 14
Raipur: Three first-time BJP MLAs on Wednesday took oath as ministers in Chhattisgarh, taking the chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai cabinet strength 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List 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. 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. 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.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh gets its first 14-member cabinet, 3 BJP MLAs inducted as ministers
RAIPUR: Three BJP MLAs on Wednesday took oath as ministers in Chhattisgarh, strengthening the cabinet from 11 to 14 members, which is the highest number ever in state. 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.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Chhattisgarh cabinet expansion: Surguja strengthened, Bastar still underrepresented
Chhattisgarh is set to witness a crucial cabinet expansion on Wednesday, with three new ministers scheduled to be sworn in at 10:30 am at Raj Bhawan in the presence of Governor Ramen Deka. The induction will take the strength of the Vishnu Deo Sai-led cabinet to 14 ministers, designed on the Haryana the frontrunners for induction are Gajendra Yadav, BJP MLA from Durg City; Guru Khushwant Saheb, the newly elected MLA from Arang; and Rajesh Agrawal, who pulled off a dramatic win in name of Amar Agrawal, veteran BJP leader from Bilaspur, is also in serious contention. Preparations for the expansion are already underway at the state garage, where official 2020-model vehicles have been lined up for the incoming ministers. The expansion will significantly boost representation from the Surguja division in North Chhattisgarh, with the region now accounting for four further strengthens the BJP's position in an area where it performed strongly in the last elections. However, political observers have noted that the tilt towards Surguja risks deepening regional imbalance. Bastar, the epicenter of the state's Naxal conflict and tribal development challenges, continues to have just one minister in the dynamics are also shaping the expansion. The inclusion of Guru Khushwant Saheb, a Satnami leader, is being seen as a deliberate move to reach out to the influential Satnami community, which has expressed discontent with the BJP in recent June 2024, Balodabazar witnessed one of the most violent caste protests in the state's recent history, after the Jaitkham, a sacred pillar of the Satnami faith, was allegedly spilt onto the streets as protesters set fire to the Collectorate and SP's office, leaving nearly 50 injured. Khushwant's elevation is being projected as an attempt at reconciliation, aimed at winning back the community's of the probable ministers highlight their varied political journeys. Gajendra Yadav, an OBC leader from Durg City, secured a thumping margin of 48,697 votes against Congress's Arun Vora, boasts a legislative attendance of 95.8 percent, and has declared assets worth over Rs 4 Khushwant Saheb, the youngest among the probables and born in 1989, switched from Congress to BJP months before the 2023 elections and defeated Congress's Shivkumar Dahariya by over 16,500 inclusion is tied closely to BJP's strategy of appeasing the Satnami base. Rajesh Agrawal, from Ambikapur, stunned political observers with his narrow victory of just 94 votes over former Deputy CM TS Singh Deo. A former Congress member who joined the BJP in 2018, Agrawal has a business background and education up to Class leader Amar Agrawal from Bilaspur, who has handled health, finance, and urban administration portfolios in previous governments, remains a strong contender and is expected to bring administrative experience to a cabinet otherwise dominated by younger the expansion, the new composition of the Chhattisgarh cabinet will see Surguja division with five ministers, Bilaspur with three, Durg with three, Raipur with two, and Bastar with just one.- EndsMust Watch
NDTV
17-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Cyber Fraud Every 20 Minutes In Chhattisgarh, Over Rs 700 Crore Lost In 2 Years
Bhopal: As India's digital transformation accelerates, Chhattisgarh is emerging as one of its most alarming cautionary tales. With smartphones in every hand and banking at every fingertip, digital convenience has quietly opened the door to an epidemic of cybercrime. Data presented during the latest assembly session has sent shockwaves through the state. From January 2023 to June 2025, an astonishing 67,389 cyber fraud complaints were filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. That's roughly one victim every 20 minutes - or three every hour - falling prey to scammers siphoning off crores through phishing links, fake apps, fraudulent calls, and social engineering tactics. The total amount of money involved - a staggering Rs 791 crore. What's worse, the scale of enforcement and redressal doesn't even come close to matching the scale of the crime. In Raipur alone, the digital crime capital of the state, over 16,000 cases have been registered. Yet, only 107 victims have received refunds, accounting for barely 0.2 per cent of those who came forward. And when it comes to bank-related fraud, just three cases have led to arrests, and only seven individuals have been jailed. These figures, made public in response to pointed questions raised by BJP MLAs Sunil Soni and Gajendra Yadav, highlight an urgent need for both stronger digital safety mechanisms and public awareness. The human cost behind these numbers is harrowing. MLA Sunil Soni, speaking in the state assembly, warned that the financial losses were so devastating that some victims had been pushed to the brink, even contemplating suicide. "Cybercrime is not just theft-it's psychological warfare," Mr Soni said, calling for immediate ramping up of cyber literacy across the state. The government has acknowledged the crisis, with Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma saying cybercrime is "a global challenge" and laying out the administration's ongoing response. Chhattisgarh has established cyber police stations in five divisions, with nine more approved in the budget. A cyber cell is now present in every police station, and a dedicated cyber building has been set up in Raipur. Additionally, 129 personnel have been freshly appointed at the police headquarters, and a Cyber Commando scheme is in progress to create a specialized, tech-savvy police force. Officers are being trained at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Academy and institutions like C-DAC I4. However, despite these steps, the numbers speak of a chasm between policy on paper and protection on the ground: Of the 67,389 complaints received, only 21,195 have even been processed.
