Two Women Ministers in Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath's Cabinet

After recent legislative assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Congress winning a majority of seats, Kamal Nath became the Chief Minister of the state. Nath decided upon a set of 20 cabinet ministers include two women MLAs—Vijay Laxmi Sadho from Maheshwar and Imarati Devi from Dabra.

The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Raj Bhavan, where Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath to the ministers. While, Nath expanded his cabinet to 28 ministers, Sadho might become the state's first woman assembly speaker. Devi is also becoming minister for the first time.

Over the last weekend, Kamal Nath met with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to decide on the cabinet ministers. Gandhi also roped in Lok Sabha MP, Jyotiraditya Scindia, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh and ex-state Congress chief, Arun Yadav in the meeting in which they decided to induct 20 ministers in the MP cabinet.

Congress, which won 114 seats out of 231 constituencies, has given due importance to experience and not included first-time legislators in the ministry. The party also included lone Muslim minister—Arif Aqueel from Bhopal North—after 15 years.

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While, Nath expanded his cabinet to 28 ministers, Sadho might become the state's first woman assembly speaker. Devi is also becoming minister for the first time.

Devi started her political career by becoming the Sr Vice-President of District IYC, Gwalior in 1997. Currently, on her second term as MLA of Dabra, she led to victory with over 54,000 votes against BJP's Kaptan Singh Sehsari.

Kamal Nath inducted nine MLAs from the Malwa Nivad region, six from central Madhya Pradesh, five representing the Gwalior-Chambal region and three from Bundelkhand in his cabinet. The ministerial team includes 11 loyalists of the Chief Minister, nine from Congress veteran’s Digvijay Singh’s camp, seven from Jyotiraditya Scindia’s camp, and one from former state party chief Arun Yadav’s camp.

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