Kamal Nath may induct BSP-SP MLAs

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath is most likely to expand his ministry by end of the month to accommodate MLAs of BSP and SP, who provide outside support to his government, in his Cabinet.

Mr Nath who left for Delhi on Friday evening on a four-day visit to the national capital was likely to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi to get the his nod to the proposed expansion of his ministry, sources close to him told this newspaper here on Saturday.

“The chief minister may expand his ministry after he returned from the World Economic Forum summit at Davos in Switzerland on January 25,” sources said.

The three-day economic summit was scheduled to begin on January 22.

Sources said at least four MLAs may be inducted in the Kamal Nath ministry.

One of the two BSP legislators and the lone SP MLA may be taken into the state ministry, while two Congress legislators may also find place in the Cabinet.

BSP and SP MLAs have been sulking ever since they were ignored in the formation of Kamal Nath ministry and have even issued a veiled threat of withdrawing support to the government.

Similarly, two Congress MLAs, K.P. Singh and Beshahulal Singh have also resented for being not inducted in the state ministry.

The chief minister was likely to discuss with BSP supremo Mayawati on inducting one BSP legislator in his ministry, sources said.

Congress returned to power in MP in the last month’s assembly elections with a wafer thin majority by securing 114 out of total 230 seats in the state.

The party fell short of two seats to get majority and hence was depending on the support of 2 BSP MLAs, one SP legislator and four Independents for survival of its government.

BJP narrowly lost power by bagging 109 seats.