The much-awaited Cabinet Formation of Bhupesh Baghel led Congress Government in Chhattisgarh will be held on Tuesday, December 25. As many as 10 newly elected lawmakers are expected to take oath during a function in Raj Bhawan, Raipur. Governor Anandiben Patel will administer the oath to the new ministers.
TS Singh Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu had taken oath as ministers on December 17 when Baghel was sworn in as chief minister.
As per the rule, the Chhattisgarh cabinet can have 13 ministers at most, including the chief minister himself. The state has 90 assembly seats.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had on Saturday finalized the names of all ministers to be inducted in the Cabinet after hectic parleys with central leaders of his party and party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
Sources familiar with the Development said, Former Union minister Charandas Mahant, who was one of the runner-ups for the chief minister post, four-time MLA Mohammad Akbar, the former minister, and OBC heavyweight Dhanendra Sahu, senior leader and former Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey, former minister Satyanaryan Sharma, Amitesh Shukla,
Arun Vora (son of AICC General Secretary Motilal Vora) and woman leader and two time MLA Anila Bhedia are key contenders for the Cabinet berths state.
Senior tribal leaders Amarjeet Bhagat, Mohan Markam, Rampukar Singh Thakur, Kawasi Lakhma and Prem Sai Singh Tekam are believed to be in the race for ministerial berths from tribal-dominated areas.
Congress in recently held Chhattisgarh Elections has completely dethroned the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party and bagged 68 seats out of 90. BJP was reduced to just 15 seats in Chhattisgarh.
“The party has tried to give representation to leaders from all the communities in the Cabinet. Almost all the senior leaders have been covered. Portfolios of the Cabinet will only be decided after the oath Ceremony” said a State INC Functionary.