Madhya Pradesh: Jyotiraditya Scindia stamps presence in expanded cabinet

The much-awaited cabinet expansion of the Shivraj Singh cabinet in Madhya Pradesh took place on Thursday (July 2) when 28 ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Anandiben Patel.

With the swearing in of people Imarti Devi, Dr Prabhuram Chaudhar, Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, Pradyumna Singh Tomar, Rajyavardhan Singh, Brijendra Singh Yadav, Girraj Dandotiya, OPS Bhadoria and Suresh Dhakad – all Scindia loyalists – the stamp of Jyotiraditya in the new cabinet is wide and clear.

Yashodhara Raje Scindia, Jyotiraditya Scindia’s aunt, too made it to the cabinet.

The initial “mini” expansion of the Chouhan cabinet took place on April 21 with the induction of five ministers, including two former Congress MLAs close to Scindia – Tulsi Silawat and Govind Singh Rajput.

With the cabinet expanded to its maximum capacity from just five members, the government is expected to handle the coronavirus pandemic with greater efficiency.
Ahead of the expansion, speculation was rife over who all would form part of it. Even though the delay was attributed COVID and the polls to the Upper House of Parliament, it was more due to differences between the BJP and those Congressmen who had crossed over to the saffron party along with Jyotiraditya Scindia in March after reducing the Kamal Nath’s government to a minority.

22 Congress MLAs, including six ministers had deserted their party and jumped on to the BJP bandwagon then.