Gaur pulls cabinet out of Uma shadow

While Gaur did not give any specific reason for retaining Chitnis — other than remarking that ‘‘women representation’’ in the cabinet was necessary — sources say she had managed to prevail upon some senior party leaders in Delhi and in the Sangh Parivar to prevent her sacking.

But by evening, Gaur seemed back in control, moving out Chitnis from Higher Education to the relatively low-profile Animal Husbandry department. And that was not all.

Staunch Uma Bharati loyalist and number two in the Gaur cabinet, Gaurishankar Shejwar, was shunted to the School Education and Social Justice Ministry, divesting him of Health portfolio. Also, School Education Minister Dhal Singh Bisen, who had attended Bharati’s Amarkantak programme, was moved to the Jail department.

On the other hand, Transport Minister Umashankar Gupta, considered close to Gaur, was gifted an additional portfolio — Higher Education.

Forest Minister Chaudhary Chandrabhan Singh was shifted to the Food and Civil Supplies Ministry, while the present incumbent, Rustum Singh, was put in charge of Health.

Among the six new faces inducted today, two were given cabinet rank and the rest were made ministers of state. Himmat Kothari, whose rivalry with Bharati is well known, was allocated Forest and Cooperative portfolio, while Kusum Singh Mehdele was given charge of Revenue, Women and Child Development. Among the four new MoS ministers of state, Kamal Patel was given independent charge of Medical and Technical Education, while Paras Jain was given Forest and Ajay Vishnoi the PWD Ministry.

Narottam Mishra was put in independent charge of Law and Parliamentary Affairs. Earlier, the CM accepted resignations of three ministers.