Though 48 hours have passed since ministers have been sworn in Madhya Pradesh, the deadlock between the allocation of the portfolio continues with Congress bigwigs locking horns with each other over the distribution of various departments, according to reports.
The Congress bigwigs Kamal Nath, Digvijay Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia are said to be having differences of opinion on the allocation of certain important departments like that of the Finance, Home and Transport Department.
Kamal Nath, who has been recently sworn in as Madhya Pradesh Cheif Minister, though is said to be ready with his list of departments, sources say that few ministers are hellbent on getting certain departments which are causing the delay and internal rift within the party.
According to reports, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who spurned the offer of deputy chief minister’s post in the Kamal Nath government, have been persistent on giving an important portfolio to his supporter, while Kamalnath and Digvijay want to bring their own ministers on board.
Its worthy to note hear that Jyotiradtiya Scindia himself was a strong contender for the post of Madhya Pradesh Cheif Minister until the Congress ultimately chose their family loyalist Kamal Nath over him.
Sources said the while Scindia has been determined to get Tulsi Silawat positioned for the Home and Transport Department, Kamal Nath wants this important portfolio to go to Rajpur’s MLA Bala Bachchan. Whereas emphasizing on experience and the superiority, Digvijay Singh is stuck on the idea of giving the Home Department to Dr Govind Singh. Apart from this, Digvijay Singh is advocating his son and Raghogarh MLA Jayawardhan Singh to be heading the finance department.
Because of these differences in opinions, it is being speculated that CM Kamal Nath is looking at the party’s high command for its consent and is likely to get his list approved from Delhi.
Taking a jibe at the functioning of the newly-formed Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan alleged that the delay in the allocation of portfolios to the ministers is a “matter of concern”.
Talking to the media at his residence, Chouhan said, “I extended my wishes to the new government, but it is a matter of concern the way the formation of the cabinet was delayed and now portfolio distribution is being delayed.”
“We are seeing media reports and various Congress leaders are insisting for particular departments causing a delay in the allocation. The quota of different camps (of Congress) was fixed. This delay is historic and never happened in the state,” he claimed.
Chouhan further said that though it was the CM’s right to allocate portfolios, but in Madhya Pradesh, it was Digvijay Singh who has been speaking and taking decisions on this matter. “It is the chief minister’s prerogative to allocate portfolios, but Digvijay ji- veteran Congress leader Digvijay Singh- was replying on such issues claiming this work would be done today” he said.
