Despite being BJP stronghold, ministerial posts elude Chhattisgarh

Even though the BJP has done exceptionally well in Chhattisgarh in the Lok Sabha elections, the state is failing to see substantial ministerial representation at the Centre.

Raipur:After a splendid performance by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha polls in Chhattisgarh, where it won nine out of the 11 seats, expectations were high that a healthy number of leaders from the state would be inducted into the Union Council of Ministers. However, the state unit of the party was left disappointed as a lone name from Chhattisgarh was included in the Council.

Even before Chhattisgarh officialy came into being, BJP leaders from erstwhile undivided Madhya Pradesh had a healthy representation at the Centre. Big names from Chhattisgarh like Raman Singh, Dilip Singh Judeo, and Ramesh Bais have served as Union Ministers in the past.

Renuka Singh only Union Minister from Chhattisgarh

All big names from the state have been seemingly ignored by the party this time around, as Surguja MP Renuka Singh is the only one from Chhattisgarh to have found a place at the Centre.

Renuka has been made the Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the NDA government's Council of Ministers. Saruta is known as an influential tribal leader of the BJP.

Union ministers in non-NDA governments

Tribal leader Arvind Netam (Congress) had served as the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, while Motilal Vora had served as the Minister for Health and Civil Aviation. When India saw the first non-Congress government come into power, Brij Lal Varma, between 1977 and 1979, held the portfolio for communication and civil aviation. Similarly, Narhari Prasad Sai was made a Minister of State for Communication in the Morarji Desai led Janata party government.

Union Ministers in Vajpayee Government

When the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government came in power, Ramesh Bais was appointed as MoS for Steel and Mining, Raman Singh was made the MoS for Commerce, and Dilip Singh Judeo was appointed as the MoS for Environment and Forest.

When did Chhattisgarh's representation see a fall?

The creation of Chhattisgarh can bee seen as the point where the state's representation at the Centre saw a fall. After the state was carved out, Raman Singh resigned from his Central post to spearhead the campaign for Chhatisgarh's maiden Assembly elections.

Though the BJP wrested power in the state, the Congress-led UPA emerged victorious in the 2004 general elections. Ajit Jogi was the lone MP chosen for a ministerial post from the state, but things did not go as planned after he suffered an injury during the elections that confined him to a wheelchair. As a result Chhattisgarh saw no representation in the Union Council of Ministers.

After the UPA was re-elected in 2009, Congress MP Charandas Mahant was appointed as the Minister of State for Agriculture.

Even 2014 saw a lone minister from Chhattisgarh

When the Narendra Modi-led NDA swept the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, the BJP bagged an impressive 10 out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh. However, only one MP, Vishnudev Sai was given a ministerial berth, even though an experienced name like Ramesh Bais was present in the BJP ranks. Vishnudev though failed to have any major impact as a minister, as the saffron party denied him a ticket for the 2019 elections.

Hope still alive

Though the Council of Ministers has already been formed, the BJP's Chhattisgarh state unit has not lost hope. Party leaders hope that a few more names from the state might be included as ministers if and when the Council is expanded.

Read: Chhattisgarh CM unveils statue of 'Bastar Tiger' Karma