RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday conducted the first expansion of his Cabinet by inducting nine Congress MLAs, including a woman legislator, as ministers. With this, the strength of the Baghel-led Cabinet has gone up to 12. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath to the new ministers during a function held at the Police Parade Ground here.

Of the nine MLAs who were sworn in as ministers, one was Kawasi Lakhma, who represents the Konta assembly constituency. Lakhma is one of the survivors of 2013 Naxal attack on a Congress convoy in Darbha valley the Sukma district which led to over 27 deaths, including former state minister Mahendra Karma and Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel and Vidya Charan Shukla.

While the Governor administered the oath of office to Lakhma, the Congress legislator had an oath letter in his hand but didn't look at it and repeated what Anandiben Patel read on his behalf. This is because Lakhma was deprived of formal education during his childhood and does not know how to read and write.

"I didn't go to school and was born in a poor family but still India's largest party had given me a ticket to contest elections. People from all sections of the society, including the business class, the poor and the youth love me a lot. I was deprived of formal education but became a minister. Now, I will work for the poor with their support," Lakhma said.



Lakhma, a tribal leader, was elected as an MLA for the first time from Konta constituency in 1998 when Chhattisgarh was a part of Madhya Pradesh. Later, he was re-elected in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018. When asked how he would sign the files during his tenure as minister, Lakhma said god has given him intellect and he will use it as he had been doing for the last two decades as a legislator.

"God has given me intellect and I have been a member of the assembly for the last 20 years. I have never been accused of corruption or being dishonest. I believe I will be able to discharge my duty as a minister with integrity," he said.

Senior Congress leader P L Punia, Chief Minister Baghel and other leaders were present on the occasion. The Chhattisgarh Cabinet can have a maximum of 13 ministers, including the chief minister. The Congress returned to power in the state after 15 years, dislodging the Raman Singh-led BJP government.

The Congress bagged 68 of the total 90 seats in the Assembly, while the BJP won only 15 seats.