Archive · 5 Sep 2025
Chhattisgarh Cabinet Expansion Spurs Constitutional Dispute
The government in Chhattisgarh added more ministers to their team, making a total of 14.
The main opposition party, Congress, says this is against the rules because the constitution says there can only be about 13 ministers.
They went to court to challenge this.
Congress says that the number of ministers should be limited to 15% of the total number of people in the Assembly.
The BJP says they followed all the rules, pointing to how another state handled a similar situation.
Former officials brought up the issue of following proper government procedures.
The BJP government in Chhattisgarh added three ministers to the cabinet, totaling 14.
The Congress party claims the number of ministers exceeds the constitutional limit of 15% of the Assembly's strength.
The Chhattisgarh Assembly has 90 members, which would allow for a maximum of 13.5 ministers.
Congress filed a civil writ petition in the Chhattisgarh High Court.
The former Chief Minister questioned if the expansion followed all necessary procedures, including central government permission and a government gazette.
- Who
- The Congress party and the BJP government in Chhattisgarh.
- What
- A dispute over the number of ministers in the Chhattisgarh Cabinet, which the Congress alleges exceeds the constitutional limit.
- When
- The cabinet expansion occurred on August 20, with the Congress filing a writ petition next week.
- Where
- Chhattisgarh High Court and Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
- Why
- The Congress alleges the BJP government's cabinet expansion breaches the constitutional limit on the number of ministers.
Congress
BJP
Constitutional Limit
Congress
The number of ministers exceeds the constitutional limit.
BJP
Followed the constitutional process.
Legality of expansion
Congress
Questions if procedures were followed including central government permissions and gazette notification.
BJP
Argues that they followed due process.
- Government
- Chhattisgarh
- Political Parties Involved
- BJP, Congress
- Ministers After Expansion
- 14
- Constitutional Limit
- 15% of Assembly Strength (13.5 ministers)
- Assembly Strength
- 90 members
- Legal Action
- Congress filed a writ petition