COURTESY TOI JULY 13
Yet again, portfolios not allocated despite CM’s word
Rajendra.Sharma@timesgroup.com
Bhopal:
Expectation turned to suspense and then to dismay as the promised allocation of portfolios to the 28 new ministers in the Shivraj Singh cabinet faltered yet again on Sunday.
It’s been 10 days since 28 ministers, including 12 from the Jyotiraditya Scindia camp, were sworn in, yet none of them has been told their department yet.
A day earlier, in Gwalior, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said that allocation of portfolios is his responsibility and it would be done on Sunday.
Even on Sunday morning, he said it was on. Till midnight, however, it hadn’t happened.
It was the third time in the last seven days that the CM hadn’t been able to keep his word on allocating portfolios. In Delhi last Sunday, he had said he would allocate portfolios “as soon as he returns to Bhopal”.
On Wednesday, he indicated it would be done before the cabinet meeting scheduled for the next day. Neither happened.
The battle of nerves between Scindia and BJP longtimers seems far from over. The lingering uncertainty is proving to be fertile ground for rumours of all kinds.
‘Lists’ of portfolios went viral on Sunday evening, forcing the CM’s office to come out with official denials.
Earlier on Sunday, CM Chouhan confirmed that portfolios would be distributed by the end of day. He also said that he holds the privilege of assigning duties to his ministers. “Should I say in Bhopal? Shall we do it today? And don’t delay further. Then, it will be done today,” Chouhan had said, when asked about the delay in portfolio allocation.
Sources said a list was ‘finalised’ and planned for release in the afternoon but another tussle, apparently over portfolios of ministers of state, and held it up. The BJP has refused to hand over certain key departments, like general administration, mining, PWD, urban development and health to members of Team Scindia, sources added.
However, in the evening, the state government elevated Independent MLA from Waraseoni, Pradeep Jaiswal, as chairperson of MP State Mining Corporation Limited.
It’s a climbdown for Jaiswal, who was mining minister in the previous Congress government. He had extended unconditional support to BJP after the fall of Congress government.
Sources in CMO said the cabinet meeting, which has been postponed thrice in view of delay in distribution of portfolios, will be held at 3pm on Monday