Cabinet expansions in Chhattisgarh, Goa fuel buzz in other BJP states

The cabinet expansion in Chhattisgarh and Goa last week has raised hopes of ministerial aspirants in other BJP-ruled states, according to people familiar with the matter.

In Chhattisgarh, the state government inducted three new ministers. Durg MLA Gajendra Yadav, Ambikapur MLA Rajesh Agrawal and Arang MLA Khuswant Sahab took oath as ministers in the Vishnu Deo Sai government. This is the first time that Chhattisgarh has got 14 ministers.

In the 90-member assembly, only 13 can be appointed ministers, including the CM. However, following Haryana, where there are 14 ministers in the 90-member assembly, Chhattisgarh also increased the tally to 14.


In Goa, the Pramod Sawant government inducted two senior BJP leaders as ministers into the cabinet. Former CM Digambar Kamat and Ramesh Tawadkar became part of the government. Both leaders are from south Goa, and their induction is being seen as an attempt to strengthen the party in the region.

After the cabinet expansion in these two states, there are discussions of a similar exercise in Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

In Rajasthan, the Bhajan Lal Sharma government is mulling over adding six new cabinet ministers to give representation to several sections of the state. In Odisha, cabinet expansion is due and will take place soon after the organisational appointments and postings in government commissions, state BJP in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar told ET.

In Uttarakhand, whenever chief minister Pushkar Dhami visits Delhi to meet party leaders, speculation erupts over the possibility of cabinet expansion. In UP, there are several vacant positions in the government, and a cabinet expansion is always a matter of discussion among state leaders. However, the party will appoint a new state president before going in for cabinet expansion, according to people in the know.