Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has taken over the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department after removing the portfolio from Minister of State (Independent Charge) Lakhan Patel. The change was announced through an order issued by the General Administration Department late on Tuesday, 14th July. Patel has now been given charge of another department. The government has not given any official reason for the decision.
Decision follows ministers’ performance review
The reshuffle comes after Chief Minister Yadav recently reviewed the work of all ministers through separate meetings. During the exercise, he assessed the performance of every department. Sources said Patel’s performance came under focus after cow shelters planned under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model could not be started in the state.
The review findings have reportedly been shared with the BJP’s central leadership, leading to discussions about a possible Cabinet reshuffle in the coming weeks.
Patel’s background and the department’s importance
Lakhan Patel is a second-term BJP MLA from Patharia in Damoh district and an OBC leader from the Bundelkhand region. He was among the first-time legislators inducted into the Mohan Yadav government after the BJP won the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. Since then, he had been handling the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department.
With the latest decision, the chief minister will directly oversee the department, which is important for dairy production, livestock welfare and rural livelihoods. Increasing milk production and making Madhya Pradesh one of the country’s leading milk-producing states has been one of Yadav’s major priorities.
Second such portfolio change
This is the second time in the last two years that a first-time minister has been removed from a major department. In July 2024, Cabinet Minister Nagarsingh Chouhan was shifted from the Forest Department to the Scheduled Castes Welfare Department.
The Forest portfolio was later given to Ramniwas Rawat after he joined the BJP from the Congress before the Lok Sabha elections. Chouhan had publicly expressed disappointment over the decision and had even spoken about resigning.
More cabinet changes may follow
The latest reshuffle has increased speculation that more ministers could see changes in their portfolios as the chief minister continues to fine-tune his Cabinet. With this move, Mohan Yadav now directly handles 11 departments, including General Administration, Home, Public Relations, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Narmada Valley Development, Aviation, Mineral Resources, Public Service Management, Non-Resident Indians, and Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development.
