Bhopal, July 15 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government has withdrawn the Animal Husbandry and Dairy portfolio from Minister of State (Independent Charge) Lakhan Patel, leaving him with charge of only the Anand Department, according to an official notification issued by the General Administration Department (GAD).

The notification, issued late on Tuesday, said the Governor approved the revised allocation of ministerial portfolios in exercise of powers under Rule 4 of the Madhya Pradesh Government Business (Allocation) Rules through a partial amendment to the order issued on December 30, 2023, following the formation of the Mohan Yadav government.

“The Governor of Madhya Pradesh hereby assigns the following departments and/or subjects in the work list of the departments to the Chief Minister/Minister of State (Independent Charge) as mentioned against their names,” the notification read.

Lakhan Patel, a second-time BJP MLA from Patharia Assembly constituency in Damoh district, was inducted into the Mohan Yadav Council of Ministers as a Minister of State (Independent Charge) in December 2023.

Before the latest order, he was looking after the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department along with the Anand Department. Following the revised allocation, he will now be responsible only for the Anand Department, which is tasked with promoting happiness and well-being initiatives in the state.

The notification also said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will continue to hold the General Administration, Home, Jail, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Public Relations, Narmada Valley Development, Aviation, Mineral Resources, Public Service Management, Non-Resident Indian Affairs, and Animal Husbandry and Dairy departments.

The Chief Minister will also remain in charge of departments that have not been allocated to any other minister.

It further stated that the revised allocation had been made in “partial modification of this Department’s Notification No. F-3-2/2023/1/4 dated December 30, 2023,” under which portfolios were allocated after the formation of the present Council of Ministers.

The development assumes significance as it comes amid indications of a Cabinet reshuffle in the BJP government.

A few days ago, state BJP President Hemant Khandelwal told IANS that the reshuffle would take place soon and that performance reports of ministers had already been sent to the party’s central leadership for consideration.

–IANS

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