Chhattisgarh Cabinet Reshuffle: Markam Assigned SC, ST, OBC and Minorities Development Departments; Singh Deo Receives Energy

Following the appointment of former state Congress chairman Mohan Markam as a minister, Chhattisgarh chairman Minister Bhupesh Baghel reorganized his cabinet on Friday in preparation for the Assembly elections that are scheduled for this year’s end.

According to the official announcement, newly appointed deputy chief minister T S Singh Deo has been given the additional department of Energy in addition to the ones he previously held, including Public Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education, 20-Point Implementation, and Commercial Taxes (GST).

Baghel himself had formerly been in charge of the Energy Department.

The departments for the development of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and Minorities have been given to Markam.

Prior to his resignation on Thursday, Presmsai Singh Tekam held this responsibility.

School Education and Cooperative, two more departments formerly held by Tekam, have been given to Ravindra Choubey. In addition, he will continue to be in charge of the Panchayat and Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Water Resources, and Anicut ministries.

The ministries that Choubey oversaw—agriculture development, farmers’ welfare, and biotechnology—have now been entrusted to Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu.

Sahu will keep holding the positions he now has in the departments of home, jail, public works, and tourism. Dharmasvs. and Dharmik Nyas.

Markam, a 56-year-old Kondagaon MLA, took his ministerial oath at Raj Bhavan earlier in the day.

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

The Chhattisgarh cabinet, including the chief minister, is limited to 13 members per the Constitution. The strength right now is 13.