Dehradun: With the resignation of Cabinet Minister Premchand Aggarwal, five ministerial positions in the Uttarakhand government have now become vacant. On Sunday, Aggarwal submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who subsequently forwarded it to the Governor.
Cabinet Reshuffle on the Horizon
Following Aggarwal’s resignation, discussions regarding new appointments and reshuffling within the Dhami cabinet have intensified. However, CM Dhami has remained silent on the matter, neither commenting on Aggarwal’s exit nor the potential cabinet expansion. Similarly, Aggarwal has not made any statements after stepping down.
Cabinet Changes Likely Before March 23
According to sources, a cabinet reshuffle is expected before March 23, marking the completion of three years of the Dhami government. As part of this reshuffle, four new members could be inducted into the cabinet. Notably, three ministerial positions had been vacant since the formation of the government. Additionally, another post became available following the demise of Cabinet Minister Chandan Ram Das. With Aggarwal’s resignation, the total number of vacant positions has now risen to five.
Senior MLAs Eyeing Ministerial Berths
With the vacancies in the Dhami cabinet, several senior BJP MLAs are hopeful of securing a ministerial position. The names of Bishan Singh Chufal, Madan Kaushik, Banshidhar Bhagat, Khajan Das, and Arvind Pandey— all former cabinet ministers—are being considered. However, the final decision will depend on factors such as experience, regional representation, caste equations, and political strategy, which will be assessed by the central leadership and CM Dhami.
Potential Ministerial Candidates
Discussions are underway regarding possible appointments to fill the vacant ministerial positions. From the Haridwar parliamentary region, Madan Kaushik, Aadesh Chauhan, and Vinod Chamoli are being considered. For the Tehri Lok Sabha region, Khajan Das, Munna Singh Chauhan, Sahdev Pundir, and Umesh Sharma Kau are in the running. Speculation is also rife that Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan could be inducted into the cabinet.
Additionally, one influential minister from the Garhwal parliamentary seat might be appointed as the new Assembly Speaker, while a ministerial vacancy from the Haridwar Lok Sabha region will need to be filled. Bishan Singh Chufal from Almora-Pithoragarh is also being considered, alongside Arvind Pandey and Shiv Arora from the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary region.
As the Dhami government approaches its three-year milestone, the upcoming cabinet reshuffle is expected to play a crucial role in balancing political dynamics in Uttarakhand. The final appointments will be determined based on party strategy, governance priorities, and electoral calculations.
