Chhattisgarh cabinet expanded; 3 BJP MLAs sworn in as ministers

The council of ministers now has the maximum permissible strength under constitutional provisions — 14 members in the 90-member legislative assembly

Published on: Aug 20, 2025, 14:09:31 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday expanded his cabinet by inducting three new ministers, taking the council of ministers in Chhattisgarh to its full strength of 14.

BJP MLA Gajendra Yadav took oath as minister at Raj Bhawan. (PTI video screengrab)

Governor Ramen Deka administered the oath of office and secrecy to three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers Guru Khushwant Saheb, Rajesh Agrawal and Gajendra Yadav at Raj Bhawan in Raipur.

The ceremony was held in the presence of CM Sai, his deputies Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma and senior BJP leaders.

The council of ministers now has the maximum permissible strength under constitutional provisions — 14 members in the 90-member legislative assembly.

Guru Khushwant Saheb, MLA from Arang, is the son of late Baldas Saheb, a prominent leader of the Satnami sect, which has a sizable Scheduled Caste (SC) following in the state.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai to expand his cabinet on Wednesday

Ambikapur MLA Rajesh Agrawal gained prominence after defeating senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo in the 2023 assembly polls.

Durg MLA Gajendra Yadav, from the numerically strong OBC Yadav community, comes from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background.

The BJP had won 54 seats in the assembly elections, while the Congress secured 35 and the Gondwana Gantantra Party one.

Sai, along with his two deputies, took oath on December 13, 2023, followed by the induction of nine ministers later that month. The strength came down to 11 after Brijmohan Agrawal resigned as minister and MLA last year following his election to the Lok Sabha from Raipur.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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