RAIPUR: With Congress battling a rebellion in
Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh chief minister
Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday appointed 15
Congress legislators
, including three women, as
Parliamentary secretaries
in a bid to appease ambitious leaders. Thirteen of them are first-timers in the assembly.
Under chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Congress has overwhelming majority with 69 of the 90 seats in the House. With so many legislators, there were many more claimants to posts in the government.
On Tuesday, CM Baghel administered oath to 15 new parliamentary secretaries at a function at his residence in the presence of AICC general secretary P L Punia.
Rajasthan political crisis: Live updatesBaghel tried to strike a balance by giving representation to
many districts
that do not have a minister. Four parliamentary secretaries are from
North Chhattisgarh
, one from Bastar and 10 from the plains.
BJP national vice-president Raman Singh took a dig at the Baghel government, saying: “Eighteen months after coming to power, Congress seems to be concerned about its legislators, following the developments in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.” He pointed out that Congress, while in opposition, had moved court to declare appointment of parliamentary secretaries illegal and unconstitutional.
In 2018, Congress leader Mohammad Akbar, who is now a minister in the Baghel cabinet, had moved court, challenging the constitutionality of appointing parliamentary secretaries. A social worker had filed a similar petition. The high court dismissed the petitions but directed that that parliamentary secretaries cannot discharge the functions and responsibilities of ministers. The matter moved to Supreme Court May 2018, where it is pending.