BHOPAL : Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday. The two leaders met after a long gap. The declared objective of the meeting was to apprise the PM of Bhavantar Scheme launched by the state government and to invite him to attend the concluding function of Ekatma Yatra. However, the meeting has triggered speculations that the expansion of the ministry may be on the cards.
A few weeks back, Chouhan had hinted at the possibility of ministry’s expansion. However, as the PM was busy campaigning in Gujarat, Chouhan could not get an appointment to meet him and he had to put off the expansion. Sources said that the ministry may now be expanded in January after clearance from PM.
At present, MP has 29 cabinet ministers and ministers of state. MLAs from the Malwa and Vindhya regions will be given preference in the expansion, claimed sources.
After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told newspersons and he had briefed Modi on details of Bhavantar Scheme. Chouhan said that the PM told him that the state government should take steps for promoting the use of solar energy and lowering consumption of LPG. Free power connections are being given under Saubhagya Scheme. Free LPG connections are being provided under Ujjwala Scheme. This has pushed up the number of LPG consumers considerably. The PM’s remarks came in this context. Chauhan said that he has invited the PM to attend the concluding function of the Ektama Yatra at Omkareshwar on January 22.
