Chhattisgarh : Sai Meets Governor, Sparks Speculation About Cabinet Expansion

Raipur: Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday met governor Biswabhusan Harichandan in Raj Bhavan amid mounting speculation about an imminent expansion of state cabinet.

This was the first time; Mr Sai met the governor after he assumed the office of chief minister in December last year.

The meeting assumes significance in the wake of speculations making rounds in the BJP circles here that Mr Sai may go for expansion and reshuffle of his ministry very soon.

“One cabinet berth was vacant when Mr Sai formed his ministry in December last year. Another cabinet berth in the state ministry fell vacant last week after state education minister Brij Mohan Agrawal resigned from the Assembly following his election to Lok Sabha. Hence, a cabinet expansion is imminent to fill up at least these two vacant positions”, BJP spokesman Sachidanand Upasana told this newspaper.

He however described the meeting between the chief minister and the governor as a ‘routine official’ one.

Mr Sai later said that he met the governor and briefed him on the current situation in the state, supply of agriculture inputs to the farmers such as fertiliser and seeds and progress made on various developmental projects in the state.

Mr Upasana said that performances of members in the state ministry were being reviewed.

The senior BJP leader however parried the question as to if any minister in the state ministry would be dropped in the proposed expansion and reshuffle exercise, saying that “It is the prerogative of the chief minister to decide who should be the members in his ministry”.

Sources said that the expansion of the Sai cabinet may happen in the coming ten days before the ‘Ekadasi’, which refers to the 11th day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month, which falls on July three.

“The proposed expansion of state ministry may take place before July 22 when the budget session of the state legislative Assembly commences”, another senior BJP leader said, unwilling to be quoted.