MP cabinet expansion sheduled for Thursday

BHOPAL: Two-and-half years into third term of the BJP government in state, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan finally gave the nod for a long overdue cabinet expansion and scheduled it for Thursday.
General administration department and Raj Bhavan started preparations soon after Governor Ram Naresh Yadav was discharged from a private hospital on Wednesday afternoon.The Governor’s health was the most important factor deciding day of swearing-in of new ministers.
Governor Yadav was admitted to the hospital after he fell ill on Saturday. Raj Bhavan officials said he is back and in good health. Governor will administare oath to new ministers at 5 pm Thursday.
In December 2013, chief minister Chouhan plus 23-ministers (including three women) were sworn-in as the BJP returned to power in the state. Council of ministers headed by chief minister included 19 cabinet ministers and four ministers of state. One cabinet minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya, left the government in June last year after he was elevated to the central leadership as BJP national general secretary. Total strength of council of ministers presently is 23 including chief minister Chouhan.
Maximum permitted strength of the Madhya Pradesh council of ministers is 35 (15% of total strength of assembly House), which means there is possibility of 12 more ministers getting accommodated.