Union cabinet expansion: MP leaders unlikely to get more berths
Madhya Pradesh seems unlikely to get any more representation in the Union cabinet expansion slated to be held on Sunday, as the state seems adequately represented compared to other states.
Madhya Pradesh seems unlikely to get any more representation in the Union cabinet expansion slated to be held on Sunday, as the state seems adequately represented compared to other states.
Besides this, there is no other ‘political’ reason such as impending assembly elections to warrant induction of more MPs from the state either. The state presently has five ministers in the Union cabinet. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Lok Sabha MP from Indore is also from the state.
Conventionally, cabinet inductions depend on regional and caste representations and seniority. “The state seems adequately represented compared to other states. However, the new BJP of Narendra Modi has changed the rules of the game to some extent. Performance, image and loyalty are the new criteria for induction. Considering these parameters too, it seems unlikely MP would get more representation,” said political analyst Girija Shankar.
Those in the union cabinet from MP include Sushma Swaraj, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Narendra Singh Tomar (all Lok Sabha MPs) and Najma Heptullah and Prakash Javdekar (both Rajya Sabha MPs). While Gehlot and Tomar are from Madhya Pradesh, Sushma Swaraj, Javdekar and Heptullah can be termed ‘outsiders’.
MPs from the state may however get another chance at induction in the next reshuffle — whenever it happens as it would be closer to assembly elections in the state.
Among those who could be considered owing to seniority and prior ministerial experience are Tikamgarh MP Virendra Khatik, Satna MP, Ganesh Singh, Jabalpur MP Rakesh Singh, Khandwa MP, Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan and Ratlam MP, Dilip Singh Bhuria, Mandla MP Faggan Singh Kulaste and Damoh MP Prahlad Patel. From the Rajya Sabha MPs, former union minister Satyanarain Jatiya and Chandan Mitra would be eligible too.