Shivraj Singh Chouhan looked suitably sombre during the swearing-in of his cabinet ministers on April 21. His day had started with the news of a police inspector in Ujjain succumbing to Covid-19, the second such death in Madhya Pradesh within 48 hours. Naturally, the shadow of the pandemic hung heavy as Govind Singh Rajput, Kamal Patel, Meena Singh, Narottam Mishra and Tulsiram Silawat were sworn in.
The cabinet formation came almost a month after Chouhan became chief minister in dramatic fashion; the Kamal Nath government was toppled by defecting Congress MLAs and the BJP returned to power.
Chouhan attributed the delay in appointing ministers to the pandemic and said more would be appointed after lifting the lockdown. Political analysts, however, felt that Chouhan kept the cabinet small because of other compulsions. Basically, it was the BJP central leadership that had pushed through the decision, under pressure from the Congress, and Chouhan did not have much say in the matter, including in the choice of ministers.
There are too many strong contenders for cabinet posts, including BJP heavyweights and 22 former Congress MLAs who recently joined the party along with former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. At least 10 of them were promised ministerial berths.
The BJP does not want political dissension to boil over, said analysts, when the pandemic is worsening and Madhya Pradesh has the third-highest death toll in the country.
This story is from the May 10, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 10, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
There Is A Wind Blowing Against The BJP, And It Will Only Pick Up Speed
Interview - Akhilesh Yadav, Former Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh
Between hospital and home
Transitional care centres can add a lot to India's health care system
EFFORT VS EFFECT
The government's attempts to ensure quality drugs is evident, but how well new policies can be monitored on the ground remains to be seen
A way to let go of fear
Accepting the use of adult diapers is a journey with various stages-denial, concealment, rejection and reluctance
Mandeeps & a miracle
Two strangers, one deadly disease and an act of kindness. How Mandeep Mann saved Mandeep Singh, an acute leukaemia patient, by donating his stem cells
The A, B, C of cosmetic surgery
Between eight to 10 lakh cosmetic surgeries happen in India every year. Who is an ideal candidate, and what are the risks and results you can expect?
Vaccines and meningitis
In sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and encompassing the northern part of Nigeria, there exists a region known as the African Meningitis Belt (AMB).
Celebrating diversity and inclusivity
As Indians battle it out in our nation's 18th general election, it is again time for voters to reflect on the \"Idea of India\"-or rather, on two duelling ideas of India that are now before us and between which the nation must choose at the ballot box.
Defendant: an Hermès handbag
When Hermès was hit with a class-action lawsuit last month for \"antitrust\" activities, it didn't see it coming. Most of the luxury world has all eyes on this suit, filed by two interested consumers who claim they were denied a purchase, and whether it would go to trial.
A legacy, bound
Amal Allana's biography of her father, Ebrahim Alkazi, is as much personal as it is historical