TFP Bureau Report; Dec11, 2023: The swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnudev Sai, is scheduled for December 13 at the Science College grounds in Raipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to grace the occasion, prompting speculation about the composition of the cabinet and the prominent roles that regional and caste considerations will play.
With Chief Minister Sai hailing from the tribal community, there is anticipation that the OBCs (Other Backward Classes) will gain increased representation in the state cabinet. The decision to have two Deputy Chief Ministers has been finalized, with Arun Sao, the elected state president and MLA from Lormi seat, and Vijay Sharma, a prominent Hindu leader who defeated a senior minister of the Congress government, securing these positions.
Among the 54 BJP MLAs in Chhattisgarh, 21 names have been shortlisted for cabinet positions. This list includes some first-time MLAs, and of the 21, 8 are from the ST (Scheduled Tribe) category, 3 from SC (Scheduled Caste), and the remaining 10 from other categories. Notably, 4 of the 10 others are from the OBC category.
The total strength of the Chhattisgarh Assembly is 90 members, allowing for 13 individuals, including the Chief Minister, to be accommodated in the cabinet. After appointing one Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers, 10 more ministers will be inducted. The Chief Minister is from the ST category, while one Deputy CM is from the OBC category, and the other is from the general category.
Party leaders suggest that the cabinet composition will balance new and experienced faces, considering the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in three months. Dr. Raman Singh is reportedly finalized for the Speaker of the Assembly, and Punnulal Mohale is under consideration for the post of Deputy Speaker.
The regional equation is also under scrutiny, with Chief Minister Sai from Surguja division, Deputy CM Sao from Bilaspur division, and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma from Durg division. Regional representation from Raipur and Bastar divisions remains a focal point, and contenders include Kedar Kashyap, Lata Usendi, Neelkanth Tekam, Brijmohan Aggarwal, Ajay Chandrakar, Rajesh Munat, Anuj Sharma, and Khushwant Saheb.
Bastar division, securing 8 out of 12 seats, presents three contenders, and Raipur division, winning 12 out of 20 seats, features both seasoned candidates and new faces. Durg division, where BJP won 10 out of 20 seats, has contenders like Dr. Raman, Vijay Sharma, and Dayaldas Baghel. Bilaspur division, securing only 10 out of 24 seats for BJP, contrasts Surguja division, where BJP claimed all 14 seats. The cabinet formation is closely watched for its regional and caste considerations as the state prepares for a new leadership under Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai.
