Malwa-Nimar expects to get lion’s share in Nath cabinet

INDORE: Malwa-Nimar region, which gives as many as 35 MLAs to Congress out of a total 66 assembly seats, is likely to get over half-a-dozen ministers in the new government.
Congress stalwarts like Sajjan Singh Verma, Jitu Patwari, Tulsiram Silawat, Bala Bachchan, Sachin Yadav and Dr Vijaylaxmi Sadho are hopeful of 'big' portfolios and are keeping their fingers crossed.But new entrant, Jay Adiwasi Yuva Shakti patron and Congress MLA from Manawar, Dr Hiralal Alawa, says Congress has no choice but to give him a cabinet berth.
“They (Congress) have to include me into the cabinet as they had promised before the election to assign me ‘big’ responsibility after forming the government” Alawa, a former AIIMS Delhi doctor who defeated former BJP minister Ranjana Baghel, told TOI.
Congress has won at least 15 seats of tribal-dominated Malwa region only after JYAS rendered its support and it did not contest the poll, he said.
Among the Congress leaders, forerunners for ministerial post in Malwa and Nimar regions include Sajjan Singh Verma, a Kamal Nath loyalist. He started his political career after electing as corporator in Indore Municipal Corporation in 1983, won five assembly polls from Sonkatch assembly seat of Dewas and was a member of 15th Lok Sabha of India from Dewas Constituency. He also served as chairman of MP Laghu Udhyog Nigam and cabinet minister for Urban Administration and Development during Digvijay Singh’s regime.
“I had wished for victory of Congress and Kamal Nath to become the chief minister. As both the wishes have fulfilled, I have not demanded for more,” Verma, who is a resident of Indore, told TOI.
Two more Indoreans – Jitu Patwari and Tulsiram Silawat, hope they make it to the cabinet.
Patwari, who led farmers’ agitation from during BJP’s regime, was made MP Congress working president before the assembly polls and was given responsibility to support some candidates including Kunal Choudhary from Kalapipal constituency.
Silawat, a close-aide of Jyotiraditya Scindia, had registered his first win in assembly polls by contesting from Sanwer Constituency (SC) in 1985 and won second election in 2008. Defeated in the last assembly polls from BJP’s Rajesh Sonkar, Silawat managed to square the balance by winning the polls against him this time.
Four-time legislator, Bachchan has been a minister of health between in Digvijaya Singh cabinet between 1998-2003 and also served as secretary of AICC, deputy leader of opposition and MP Congress working president. Coming from a poor financial background, Bachchan has strong claim for minister-ship in the new government.