Chhattisgarh minister Kedar Kashyap has been allocated the Parliamentary Affairs department, a role previously held by Brijmohan Agrawal. Agrawal recently resigned as an MLA and state minister after his election to the Lok Sabha.
Kashyap, who currently manages the Forest and Climate Change, Water Resources, Skill Development, and Cooperative portfolios, will now also oversee the Parliamentary Affairs department.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai extended his congratulations to Kashyap in a post on X.
The Parliamentary Affairs portfolio was earlier managed by senior BJP leader Brijmohan Agrawal. Agrawal resigned from his positions as an MLA and state minister after securing the Raipur Lok Sabha seat.
With the Chhattisgarh assembly's monsoon session set to commence on July 22, there had been widespread speculation about a possible cabinet expansion by Chief Minister Sai. The cabinet, which can have up to 13 members, currently includes 11, including the Chief Minister. However, this recent development has quelled much of the speculation surrounding the cabinet's potential expansion.
Cabinet expansion postponed till assembly session
In this way, Kedar Kashyap has also been given the charge of Parliamentary Affairs Minister. Earlier it was believed that the cabinet could be expanded soon in Chhattisgarh. Two MLAs could be sworn in as ministers on two vacant posts, but the way CM Vishnu Deo Sai has given the charge of Parliamentary Affairs Department to Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, it is believed that now the cabinet may not be expanded at least till the assembly session. The expansion of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai's cabinet has been postponed for the time being.
The Chief Minister has written in his congratulatory message that his cabinet colleague Kedar Kashyap has also been given the charge of Parliamentary Affairs Department along with the existing responsibilities of Forest and Climate Change, Water Resources, Skill Development, Cooperation. Many congratulations for this and heartiest wishes for a successful tenure.