Shivraj Singh Chouhan aide Narottam Mishra gets Home and Health portfolios in Madhya Pradesh cabinet

NEW DELHI: A day after expanding his cabinet, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday allocated portfolios to the five inductees.nnNarottam Mishra, a senior BJP leader and Chouhan?s confidant, was allotted Home, Health and Family Welfare departments, an important assignment in view of the COVID-19 situation in Madhya Pradesh.nnAnnouncing the allocation of departments via a video release, the CM said Tulsi Silawat will be incharge of Water Resources Department and Govind Singh Rajput will head Cooperatives, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Welfare department.nnSilawat and Rajput had resigned as MLAs of Congress to join the BJP.nnKamal Patel is entrusted with the Agriculture and Farmer Welfareportfolio while Meena Singh will look after Tribal Welfare department.nnChouhan had assigned two divisions each to the five ministers, after they took oath on Tuesday, to deal with the COVID-19 situation.nnHe, however, suggested that the arrangements could be temporary.nn?The current allocation of departments was made as per the requirement arising due to COVID-19 situation and the need to bring the situation under control,? the CM said.nnHe said the state cabinet will be expanded once the lockdown is lifted, and that departments will be reallocated after discussions.nnOn Tuesday, Chouhan effected the first expansion of his single-member Cabinet since he took oath on March 23, after the Kamal Nath-led government collapsed due to rebellion by Jyotiraditya Scindia and resignation of 22 MLAs of the Congress.nnTill Tuesday evening, Madhya Pradesh had reported 1552 COVID-19 cases with 80 deaths.nnSource: Press Trust of Indiann