CURATED BY – RAJIV KHARE | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Raipur, discussions about cabinet expansion are in full swing in Chhattisgarh. Currently, there are 12 ministers working under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, out of which one more position has become vacant after the resignation of Brijmohan Agarwal. According to the Haryana formula, a maximum of 13 ministers can be made in the state apart from the CM. That means a total of 3 more ministers can get a place in the cabinet.

Chief Minister Sai has indicated that cabinet expansion is possible after the urban body elections. He said, "We will consider cabinet expansion after the urban body elections."

According to sources, the names of six contenders are in discussion for these vacant ministerial positions. Some of these new faces can be included in the cabinet. Among the names being discussed are state BJP president Kiran Singhdeo, Gajendra Yadav, MLA North Raipur Purandar Mishra, newly elected MLA Sunil Soni and senior former ministers Amar Agarwal, Rajesh Munat and Ajay Chandrakar. Kiran Singhdeo is currently the state president of BJP. If Kiran Singhdeo becomes a minister, then either Shivratan Sharma or Anurag Singhdeo is likely to be made the state president. However, the name of Saurabh Singh is also being discussed for the state president.

Amidst the possibilities of cabinet expansion, activities have intensified in the BJP state office. Senior party leaders and workers are making strategies regarding the possible expansion.

Political experts believe that regional and caste balance will be taken care of in the upcoming expansion, so that the party's position can be strengthened in the upcoming elections.

The process of cabinet expansion is expected to speed up after the results of the urban body elections. Political analysts say that this expansion can play an important role in the politics of the state.