Even as the portfolio allocation to ministers continues to hang fire in Madhya Pradesh, the internal tussle in state unit of the BJP over selection of ministers and allocation of portfolios is now out in the open. Senior MLA and former minister Ajay Vishnoi has taken to social media to express resentment and concern over the issue.
Vishnoi tweeted on Wednesday: “First number of ministers and now distribution of departments. I fear that the common worker of the BJP shouldn't get upset with such insult of our leader. There will be a big loss.”
The former minister's tweet is being perceived as pointing towards overlooking of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's choice on ministerial berths as well as portfolio allocation. This is not the first time Vishnoi has expressed his dissatisfaction.
Vishnoi hails from Jabalpur in Mahakoshal region that remained grossly under-represented in cabinet expansion with only one minister of state, Ramkishore Kawre— a new face included from Balaghat district.
Right after the cabinet expansion, he had written a letter to the chief minister, urging him to keep charge of Jabalpur and Rewa districts—that do not have ministerial representation—with him (the chief minister) as the people of these areas were upset with the cabinet composition.
“I can understand your compulsions (of cabinet composition),” Vishnoi had said in the letter to the CM, adding that if he kept the charge of the two districts with himself, the anger among people would subside. The former minister had also pointed out in the letter that as the CM, Digvijaya Singh used to be the in-charge minister of Jabalpur.
Vishnoi had earlier suggested that the non-MLA ministers (Congress leaders who defected to the BJP ) should not be given any portfolios till they got re-elected to the house.
Now the former minister's tweet has further stirred the hornet's nest. Responding to this, Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha tweeted “First Congress had to suffer damage, now it is certainly the turn of BJP. That is completely right Ajay Bhai.”
'Cabinet meeting on Thursday; everything will be done'
Responding to a question on Vishnoi's tweet and delay in portfolio allocation, Chief Minister Chouhan indicated that the portfolio allocation might come before the cabinet meeting scheduled at 10.30am on Thursday. He said, “All departments are enshrined in the chief minister. I am the minister of all departments. The government is running smoothly. The cabinet meeting will be held on Thursday and everything will be done.”
