Chhattisgarh CM Sai Voices Hope for BJP MPs' Ministerial Berths, Cites PM's Authority

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, on Thursday, expressed optimism regarding the inclusion of BJP MPs from the state in the Union Cabinet, emphasizing that the decision rests solely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This statement was made at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur before his departure to Delhi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a significant victory in Chhattisgarh during the recent general elections, winning 10 out of 11 Lok Sabha seats, with the Congress party winning one seat.

Sai highlighted, "Mauka to milega hi, aisa nahi hai ki mauka nahi milega. Lekin yeh to pradhanmantri ji ka ekadhikar hai." This translates to an assurance that Chhattisgarh MPs will likely receive ministerial berths, acknowledging however that the final decision lies with the Prime Minister. His comments reflect a blend of hope and respect for the Prime Minister's authority in these appointments.

The Chief Minister also shared details about his trip to Delhi, mentioning a scheduled meeting with newly elected BJP MPs, Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, and party state unit presidents on Friday. Sai, along with Deputy CMs Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao, state party chief Kiran Deo, and newly elected MPs from Chhattisgarh, will be attending this meeting.

During Narendra Modi's second term as Prime Minister, Renuka Singh, MP from Surguja, served as Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs. Sai himself had served as Union Minister of State for Steel and Mines during Modi's first term (2014-19). With the BJP's strong performance in Chhattisgarh in the recent elections, leaders such as Brijmohan Agrawal, Vijay Baghel, and Santosh Pandey are viewed as potential candidates for ministerial positions in Modi's third term. Agrawal won the Raipur Lok Sabha seat by a significant margin of over 5 lakh votes, while sitting MPs Baghel and Pandey successfully retained their seats in Durg and Rajnandgaon respectively.

This development comes at a time when the BJP is consolidating its position across various states in India, with Chhattisgarh playing a crucial role due to its strategic political significance. The appointment of state MPs to ministerial positions at the Centre would not only strengthen Chhattisgarh's representation but also potentially enhance the state's influence in national politics.