Then, after a big gap five Ministers were added. Again constitutional provision was violated because constitution says that the minimum strength of the council should be 14. After big bargaining between the BJP and Jyotiraditya Scindia the Ministry was expanded after 102 days.
But all Ministers are Ministers without portfolios. The BJP made one more historical feat when it included 14 non-legislators in the Ministry. Perhaps it was for the first time in the parliamentary history of the country that such a large number of non-legislators became Ministers. Only party with difference can do so. The state Ministry was expanded on July 2. Eight days are over and no allocation of portfolios. Why such a delay? What is holding allocation of portfolios? None can say exactly when portfolios will be allocated. Chief Minister Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan was asked his reply was “I am Minister of all departments”.

It may be recalled here that during his tenure of ten years as chief Minister there was a time when Digvijaya Singh did not keep any department with him and Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan is creating history in reverse by keeping all departments with him even as the stalemate over portfolio allocation dragged on for the seventh day since the swearing in of 28 Ministers.

CM Chouhan, who returned from Delhi on Tuesday had said on Sunday that portfolios would be distributed” as soon as he is back to Bhopal”. That is yet to happen.

On Wednesday he hinted that it may be taken up on Thursday before scheduled cabinet meeting. “Tomorrow is the cabinet meeting. Everything will be done” said Chouhan when media persons asked him about the delay in distribution of portfolios.

Sources said the cabinet meeting was earlier scheduled for 10.30 am but was postponed for 5 pm and ultimately cancelled due to the tussle over portfolios. On returning from Delhi the CM had said on Tuesday that portfolio allocation needed “some more work”.

It is believed that the rising clout of Jyotiraditya Scindia and his equation with the BJP central leadership is leaving little room for Chouhan in the negotiations. Home Minister Narottam Mishra sought to defend the CM and said BJP has a method to work out sensitive issues. “The Chief Minister has made it clear that departments will be allocated very soon. There is no hurry. BJP takes every leader into confidence on important matters. The party is not a individual but a group that moves forward after mutual discussion” said Mishra Sources said the BJP central leadership is likely to finalise the list and convey it to Chief Minister Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan. One of the thorny issues is the independent charge to Scindia loyalists, say sources.

All that sources in BJP could say was that portfolios will be distributed “in a day or two, after approval by the central leadership”. Sources say Scindia is determined to get some prized portfolios and independent charges for his loyalist ministers.

During the regular press briefing at the BJP HQ on Thursday the CM did not respond to queries on portfolio allocation.

State BJP President VD Sharma stepped up to say “BJP is a big organisation and it takes time to work out distribution of responsibilities”.

The government circular that announced cancellation of Thursday’s cabinet meeting said nothing about when it will be held.

Sources in the Mantralaya said the delay in allocation of portfolios is turning out to be a big embarrassment to the party.

Resentment is brewing among senior BJP leaders, though only few have come out in the open. Former MLA from Surkhi, Parul Sahu posted on social media “This political torture for dowry (portfolios) shouldn’t turn out to be the reason for divorce. I request the party high command to ensure that people’s affection and respect for chief minister Shivraj ji should not be tarnished in this way. He should be given complete freedom to take any decision according to his experience, loyalty to party and spirit of the workers”.

Jyotiraditya Scindia aide Govind Singh Rajput had won Surkhi seat in the 2018 assembly election and a by poll is due there. He resigned to join BJP and has since been made a minister. On Wednesday senior MLA and former minister Ajay Vishnoi had tweeted his resentment, warning that BJP workers would be “angered by the insult of our leader”. “This will cause damage” he said. (IPA Service)