Published 22:10 IST, April 20th 2020
Madhya Pradesh cabinet to expand as state battles Coronavirus without Health minister
As the state grapples the Coronavirus crisis without a Health minister, Madhya Pradesh will witness a cabinet expansion on Tuesday, as per ANI sources
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As state grapples Coronavirus crisis without a Health minister, Madhya Pradesh will witness a cabinet expansion on Tuesday, as per ANI sources. Currently, Chouhan is running a one-man cabinet as Coronavirus cases soared. state currently has 1485 cases with 74 deaths.
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Madhya Pradesh Cabinet expansion on Tuesday
COVID-19 task force set up
Chouhan has appointed a COVID-19 task force with 21 or MLAs. task force is headed by former health minister Tulsi Silawat from Kamal Nath cabinet and a Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist. government has sealed off 15 districts in addition to three major cities Bhopal, Ujjain, and Indore - which have already been sealed. Previously, state government also invoked Essential Services Manment Act (ESMA) in state with immediate effect to combat COVID-19 to ensure essential supplies and services are operational during this crisis.
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90 state officials test positive
On April 7, 32 health officials tested positive in office building of Madhya Pradesh Directorate of Health Services in Bhopal. While source of COVID-19 outbreak is unkwn, reports state that Principal Secretary of State Public Health and Family Welfare Department, Deputy Directors, Additional Directors, and or officers have tested positive. Reports state that health officials had attended a meeting to fight COVID-19, spreading virus - which has w affected 90 officials. Chouhan has ordered a probe to find how 2 IAS officers led to 90 state health officials in Bhopal testing positive.
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MP political crisis
On March 23, a day before nationwide lockdown was anunced, BJP MP chief Shivraj Singh Chouhan took oath as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh at Raj Bhavan for fourth time. Chouhan said that his only goal was to stop coronavirus, inspite of hosting a public meeting where all BJP MLAs were seen celebrating, garlanding Chouhan, hugging him, feeding sweets and raising joined hands. BJP came back into power after Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from party along with 22 MLAs, reducing Congress to a mirity government with 92 MLAs.
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22:10 IST, April 20th 2020