Veterans sidelined, infighting inevitable, says Congress on Chhattisgarh cabinet expansion, calls it ‘unconstitutional’

RAIPUR: The expansion of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s cabinet, which brought the strength of Chhattisgarh council of ministers to 14, has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition Congress.

Party leaders alleged that the BJP sidelined its senior legislators to promote newcomers, while also questioning the legality of increasing the cabinet size.Following the swearing-in of Rajesh Agrawal, Guru Khushwant Saheb, and Gajendra Yadav on Wednesday, celebrations erupted in their constituencies. Supporters in Durg, Arang, and Lakanpur lit fireworks, beat drums, and raised slogans to mark the occasion.

But the Congress painted a very different picture.State Congress President Deepak Baij alleged that none of the three new ministers reflected the chief minister’s own choice. “One has been appointed under influences and RSS pressure,” he said.He accused the BJP of humiliating its veterans while elevating first-timers. “Senior MLAs like Dharamlal Kaushik and Ajay Chandrakar did not even attend the oath ceremony.

It shows how they have been pushed into a ‘Margdarshak Mandal.’ Unlike our government, where seniors were respected, the BJP has discarded its stalwarts. Infighting will only intensify,” Baij remarked.Former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, raised constitutional concerns over the expansion. He reminded that under the 2003 law, the size of the council of ministers cannot exceed 15 percent of the strength of the assembly, which for Chhattisgarh means only 13 ministers. “In 2018, when our government came to power, we had written to the Centre seeking approval for a 14-member cabinet, citing the state’s large geography. Despite passing it in the assembly, the Centre never granted approval. So the question is, when did the Sai government get this permission? If no approval has been obtained, then the 14-member cabinet is unconstitutional,” Baghel said.He also claimed that BJP seniors such as Lata Usendi, Vikram Usendi, Ajay Chandrakar, Rajesh Munat, and Union minister Renuka Singh had been sidelined. “All senior leaders have been dismissed in one stroke. If they still have any self-respect left, they must show some courage,” Baghel said.