Chouhan to retain portfolios until expansion

Bhopal, Feb 7 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said he would retain, for the time being, the portfolios of two ministers whose resignation papers were accepted by Governor Balram Jakhar this morning.

''The departments hitherto looked after by Mr Narendra Singh Tomar and Mr Rampal Singh will be held by me,'' he told reporters at the state Bharatiya Janata Party office on the inaugural day of a two-day meeting of the working committee.

As per the 'one man-one post' principle, Panchayats, Rural Development, Village Industry and Public Relations Minister Tomar put in his papers after being elected the BJP's Madhya Pradesh unit president while Public Health Engineering and Social Justice Minister Singh quit after emerging victorious in the Vidisha Lok Sabha bypoll.

Mr Chouhan is also holding charge of the General Administration, Home, Narmada Valley Development, Aviation, Science and Technology departments.

''I will take the step (expansion) when the time is ripe,'' the chief minister said in repsonse to a question. Six slots are vacant in the council of ministers.

UNI