Decoded: Why newly formed Ministry of Co-operation is raising many eyebrows

Questions abound if the freshly carved out ministry is for political heft or if it's a tool to fan Centre-state feud

In the latest reshuffle of the Narendra Modi government, the carving of a separate Ministry of Co-operation from the Ministry of Agriculture and placing no less than the country’s Home Minister as head of the newly created ministry has generated much curiosity.

Given the financial heft and muscle along with political clout that co-operatives exercise in some states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and also in recent times in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh (for conducting procurement operations on behalf the state and Centre), the move is being read differently by different people.

With almost 0.8 million registered co-operatives across