Digvijaya Singh warns MP CM Mohan Yadav: Keeping 12 portfolios could backfire

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has cautioned that incumbent Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's decision to retain 12 portfolios for himself is a 'big mistake'. Singh warned that such concentration of power could make Yadav personally accountable for any administrative failures, even if the fault lies with officials.

Speaking to reporters in Bhopal on Tuesday, Singh said, 'When you hold so many departments, you become directly responsible for every decision. If something goes wrong, you cannot blame the bureaucracy. You will get trapped.' He added that this approach violates the principle of collective responsibility and undermines the role of cabinet colleagues.

Mohan Yadav, who took over as Chief Minister in December 2023 after the BJP's victory in the state assembly elections, currently oversees key portfolios including Home, Finance, and Public Relations. This is not unprecedented—previous chief ministers have also held multiple portfolios—but Singh argued that it reflects a lack of trust in party colleagues and could lead to administrative inefficiency.

Political analysts note that the move allows Yadav to maintain tight control over sensitive departments, but it also exposes him to greater scrutiny. 'If there is a law and order failure or a financial scandal, the buck stops with the CM,' said Dr. Arvind Sharma, a political science professor at Bhopal University. 'By holding so many portfolios, he is essentially making himself the single point of accountability.'

The Congress leader's criticism comes amid ongoing political sparring between the ruling BJP and the opposition in Madhya Pradesh. The state is scheduled to hold local body elections later this year, and both parties are jockeying for position. Singh's remarks are seen as an attempt to question the competency of the Yadav government while appealing to the public's sense of good governance.

In response, BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal dismissed Singh's comments, stating, 'The Chief Minister has the right to allocate portfolios as he sees fit. Singh, as a former CM, knows that such decisions are made in the interest of efficient administration. The Congress should focus on issues rather than making baseless allegations.'

The state government has defended the arrangement, saying it ensures coordination among departments. 'The Chief Minister's direct oversight of multiple ministries helps in speedy decision-making and policy implementation,' said a government statement.

Digvijaya Singh, who served as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister from 1998 to 2003, also raised concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest when one person controls both financial and law enforcement departments. He urged the Chief Minister to reconsider and distribute portfolios more widely to foster teamwork and accountability.