Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expanded his cabinet, inducting three first-time BJP MLAs—Rajesh Agrawal, Guru Khushwant Saheb, and Gajendra Yadav—bringing the total strength to 14, the largest in the state’s history. The oath-taking ceremony, held at the Raj Bhavan in Raipur, was administered by Governor Ramen Deka and attended by prominent leaders, including Assembly Speaker Raman Singh and other state ministers.

This expansion marks a departure from Chhattisgarh’s tradition of maintaining a 13-member cabinet, including the chief minister, since the state’s formation in 2000. With a 90-member assembly, constitutional provisions allow for a maximum of 15% of the assembly’s strength—equating to 13.5 members, rounded up to permit 14 ministers. Sources indicate that Chhattisgarh has adopted the “Haryana model,” which also accommodates 14 ministers in a similar-sized assembly.

The new ministers’ portfolios are yet to be announced, but the expansion is seen as a strategic effort to balance caste and regional representation. Gajendra Yadav represents the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, Guru Khushwant Saheb hails from the Scheduled Caste community, and Rajesh Agrawal belongs to the general category, reflecting the BJP’s focus on inclusive governance.

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Prior to this expansion, the cabinet comprised 11 members, including CM Sai. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s decisive victory in the 2023 assembly elections, securing 54 seats against Congress’s 35 and Gondwana Gantantra Party’s one, paved the way for this reshuffle, strengthening the party’s grip on the state.

The ceremony was a significant moment for the new ministers, all first-term MLAs, as they step into key roles to drive Chhattisgarh’s development agenda. Political analysts view the expansion as a move to consolidate power and reward emerging leaders within the BJP while addressing diverse community interests. As the state anticipates the allocation of portfolios, the expanded cabinet is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping Chhattisgarh’s future policies.

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