Ahead of assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP government accorded minister of state status to five Hindu religious leaders, a move that was slammed by the opposition congress. As per officials reports the MoS status has been accorded to Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, computer Baba, Bhaiyyu maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant. On March 31, these five religious leaders were appointed to a committee set up for the conservation of the Narmada river.