BSP MLA Ramabai Ahirwar repeats demand for Madhya Pradesh cabinet berth, threatens 'Karnataka-like situation' otherwise

Damoh: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Ramabai Ahirwar has reiterated her demand for a cabinet berth in Madhya Pradesh, stating that the Kamal Nath government should keep its ministers happy to avoid a “Karnataka-like situation” in the state. Speaking to ANI, Ahirwar, an MLA from Pathariya assembly constituency, said, “The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has been formed with the support of behenji (BSP chief Mayawati). We demand a ministerial berth for two BSP MLAs in the Madhya Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Kamal Nath. We have seen the situation in Karnataka; we don’t want a similar situation here.” [caption id=“attachment_5945131” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] BSP MLA Ramabai Ahirwar. ANI[/caption] “If they (the Congress government) don’t give us a ministerial berth, then not only I but others will also oppose them. They need to keep everyone happy. If he (Kamal Nath) wants to keep the party strong, then first, he must make us strong. He should give us the ministerial berth,” said Ahirwar. This is not the first time that Ahirwar has raised demands for a ministerial berth. On 7 January, the Pathariya MLA had demanded a Cabinet post for Sanjeev Singh Kushwaha and the position of a state minister for herself. Speaking to the media after meeting Nath at his residence on that day, she had said, “We were told by behenji (Mayawati) to skip the Congress MLAs meet, but attend the banquet. I demanded a Cabinet post for Sanjeev Singh Kushwaha and a state minister’s post for myself. I was given the assurance that they will take care of it.” Madhya Pradesh saw a nail-biting fight where the Congress managed to bag 114 seats out of a total of 230, while the BJP got 109 seats. The BSP won two, the Samajwadi Party won one and Independents won four in the recently concluded Assembly elections. Soon after, Kamal Nath was sworn in as the chief minister, ousting three-time chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan.