Bhopal: A late night decision to withdraw the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development portfolio from Minister of State Lakhan Patel has fuelled speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle in the Madhya Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
According to official notifications issued shortly after the decision, the department has now been placed directly under the Chief Minister. The unexpected move has drawn attention because it comes soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party completed a detailed review of the performance of ministers in the state.
Responding to the development, Lakhan Patel said that the allocation or withdrawal of ministerial portfolios is entirely the Chief Minister’s prerogative. He did not comment further on the decision.
The timing of the portfolio change has intensified political discussions, particularly after BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal recently revealed that the party organisation and the state government had jointly reviewed the political influence, regional performance and departmental functioning of every minister. The findings were subsequently submitted to the party’s central leadership.
Although neither the state government nor the BJP has officially linked the review exercise to Patel’s portfolio being withdrawn, political observers believe the development could indicate the beginning of broader changes within the Cabinet.
Earlier this month, Khandelwal had said that while there was no immediate plan for a reshuffle, any required changes would be made at an appropriate time based on the decision of the party’s central leadership. He also noted that the BJP regularly receives feedback on ministers’ performance from party workers, the media and the public.
The Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department plays a significant role in the state’s rural economy, overseeing policies related to dairy production, cattle welfare, gaushalas and cooperative development. The Mohan Yadav government has announced ambitious plans to expand milk production, strengthen dairy cooperatives and work closely with the National Dairy Development Board to boost the sector.
Given the department’s importance, the sudden change has strengthened speculation that further ministerial changes could follow in the coming weeks.
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