MP: Kamal Nath puts halt to speculation on cabinet expansion, again

A state minister claimed on Monday 5-6 members of the cabinet could be dropped

Kamal Nath Anandiben Patel Twitter Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath meeting state Governor Anandiben Patel | Twitter handle of Kamal Nath

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath once again put a halt to speculation on a cabinet expansion in the state, saying he has “no such thoughts in the mind”.

The speculation was fuelled once again on Tuesday as the chief minister met Governor Anandiben Patel and held discussions for about 30 minutes.

Earlier on Monday, state minister Sajjan Singh Verma had stoked the fire again by saying that five-six ministers in the present cabinet might be dropped in the proposed expansion.

However, when Kamal Nath came out of the meeting with the governor and the media asked him about cabinet expansion plans, he said, “I have no such thoughts in the mind and nothing was discussed.”

Kamal Nath mentioned that he discussed points raised in the NITI Aayog meeting pertinent to Madhya Pradesh with the governor. He also discussed about the state universities, of which the governor is chancellor, and the future plans and schemes of the state. “The governor assured me of complete support in all these things,” Kamal Nath said.

The speculation regarding cabinet expansion has been going on right since the Lok Sabha poll results last month, but Congress sources say that any change in ministries is likely only after the budget session of the state Assembly that concludes on July 26.

However, the minister’s statement, followed by Kamal Nath's meeting with the governor, kept the speculation rife on Tuesday morning.