Chhattisgarh: Nine BJP MLAs sworn in as ministers amid cabinet expansion

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

Raipur, Dec 22: Nine BJP MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the BJP government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai in Chhattisgarh on Friday, thereby increasing the cabinet’s strength to 12.

The MLAs who were sworn in as ministers comprise OP Choudhary, Tankram Verma, Laxmi Rajwade, Dayaldas Baghel, Kedar Kashyap, Lakhanlal Dewangan, Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Ram Vichar Netam and Brijmohan Agrawal.

At a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan administered the nine MLAs the oath of office and secrecy.

According to constitutional norms, Chhattisgarh, with its 90-member assembly, is allowed to have a maximum of 13 ministers in the cabinet, inclusive of the chief minister.

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State’s CM, Speaker congratulate ministers

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated, “All ministers will work for the welfare of Chhattisgarh. I congratulate them and wish them luck.”

Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Raman Singh extended his greetings to the nine new ministers, expressing confidence that they would implement the party’s manifesto. “Greetings to all the 9 ministers. They will execute the manifesto…”, he said.

BJP won 54 seats

The state elections took place in two phases, with the initial phase on November 7 involving 223 candidates, followed by the second phase on November 17, where 958 candidates contested to determine their electoral outcomes.