Chhattisgarh cabinet reshuffle: Singh Deo gets energy, Markam gets SC, ST, OBC and minority development portfolios – News18

Ahead of the assembly elections later this year, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday reshuffled his cabinet after inducting former state Congress chief Mohan Markam as a minister.

According to the official notification, the newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo has been assigned another portfolio – Energy – which he already held, along with Public Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education, 20-point implementation and Commercial Tax (GST).

The energy department was earlier with Baghel.

Markam has been entrusted with the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities Development Department.

Earlier this portfolio was with Premsai Singh Tekam, who resigned on Thursday.

Two other portfolios held by Tekam – School Education and Cooperatives – have been allocated to Ravindra Choubey, who will also continue to hold Panchayat and Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Water Resources and Anicut portfolios.

However, the portfolios of Agriculture Development, Farmers Welfare and Bio-Technology which were held by Choubey have been given to Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu.

Sahu will continue with his existing portfolios of Home, Jail, Public Works Department and Tourism. Religious trusts and endowments.

Earlier in the day, Kondagaon MLA Markam (56) took oath as a minister at the Raj Bhavan.

Markam, who was the state Congress president since June 2019, was on Wednesday replaced by the party’s Bastar MP Deepak Baij.

As per the constitutional provision, the number of members of the cabinet of Chhattisgarh cannot exceed 13 including the Chief Minister. The current strength is 13.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,