The new ministers include Khushwant Saheb (MLA from Arang), Gajendra Yadav (MLA from Durg City), and Rajesh Agrawal (MLA from Ambikapur). All three have been elected to the state assembly for the first time and have now achieved a significant political milestone by securing positions in the state cabinet.
Cabinet Now Has 14 Members
With the induction of the new ministers, the total strength of the cabinet has risen to 14, including the Chief Minister. Previously, there were 11 ministers. This is the first time Chhattisgarh has reached the constitutional limit of 15% of the total 90-member assembly in terms of ministerial appointments.
Likely Portfolio Allocation
According to sources, Gajendra Yadav may be assigned the School Education, Higher Education, and Technical Education departments, considering his academic background. This may involve the transfer of the Technical Education department from Deputy CM Vijay Sharma.
Khushwant Saheb is likely to get the Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Khadi and Village Industries departments, currently handled by Deputy CM Arun Sao.
Rajesh Agrawal is expected to take charge of Religious Trust and Endowment, Tourism and Culture, and possibly the Excise Department.
CM Still Holds Several Key Portfolios
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai continues to oversee several key departments, including General Administration, Mining, Energy, Public Relations, Excise, Transport, as well as departments related to Education and Culture. A reshuffling of portfolios is expected soon following the expansion.
Expansion Ahead of Foreign Tour
CM Sai is scheduled to leave for a 10-day foreign tour to Japan and South Korea starting August 21. The expansion and anticipated departmental reshuffling were planned to be completed before his departure.
Luxury Vehicles Prepared for New Ministers
The state government has arranged three white Toyota Fortuner SUVs for the newly inducted ministers. According to official Rajesh Agrawal, the vehicles are undergoing final inspections and fittings at the Chhattisgarh State Garage.
Council of Ministers – Chhattisgarh (With Portfolios)
Shri Vishnu Deo Sai (Chief Minister)
General Administration
Mineral Resources
Energy
Public Relations
Water Resources
Aviation
Good Governance and Convergence
Electronics & Information Technology
Public Grievance & Redressal
And other departments not allocated to any other minister
Shri Arun Sao (Deputy Chief Minister)
Public Works
Public Health Engineering (PHE)
Urban Administration & Development
Sports and Youth Welfare
Shri Vijay Sharma (Deputy Chief Minister)
Home
Jail
Panchayat & Rural Development
Science & Technology
Shri Ram Vichar Netam (Minister)
Tribal Development
Agriculture Development & Farmers Welfare and Biotechnology
Fisheries
Animal Husbandry Development
Shri Dayal Das Baghel (Minister)
Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection
Shri Kedar Kashyap (Minister)
Forest and Climate Change
Transport
Cooperation
Parliamentary Affairs
Shri Lakhan Lal Dewangan (Minister)
Commerce & Industry
Public Enterprises
Commercial Tax (Excise excluded)
Labour
Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal (Minister)
Public Health & Family Welfare
Medical Education
Backward Classes and Minority Development
Twenty-Point Programme Implementation
Shri O.P. Choudhary (Minister)
Finance
Commercial Tax (excluding Excise)
Housing & Environment
Planning, Economic & Statistics
Smt. Laxmi Rajwade (Minister)
Women & Child Development
Social Welfare
Shri Tankram Verma (Minister)
Revenue & Disaster Management
Rehabilitation
Higher Education
Shri Gajendra Yadav (Minister)
School Education
Village Industries
Law and Legislative Affairs
Shri Guru Khushwant Saheb (Minister)
Skill Development
Technical Education & Employment
Scheduled Caste Development
Shri Rajesh Agrawal (Minister)
Tourism
Culture
Religious Trusts and Endowments
