Bhopal: The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh has accorded minister of state (MoS) rank to five Hindu seers, following which two of them cancelled a proposed campaign against the government over alleged corruption while a third said he would not partake of the benefits.

According to an order issued by the BJP-ruled state's general administration department on Tuesday evening, the MoS status has been given to Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, Computer Baba, Bhayyu Maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant.

Computer Baba had earlier announced a Narmada Ghotala Rath Yatra along with Pandit Yogendra Mahant in every district of Madhya Pradesh from April 1 to May 15 to "expose" an alleged scam in the planting of saplings on the banks of the Narmada river and to demand a ban on illegal sand mining.

The publicity material for the campaign had been circulated widely on social media.

Computer Baba said on Wednesday that they had cancelled the campaign because the state government had fulfilled their demand to form a committee of saints and seers for the protection of the Narmada river.

The committee was formed on March 31 with the five saints as members.

"Now why would we take out the yatra?" he asked.

Bhayyu Maharaj, a former model known for his lavish lifestyle, said he would shun the perks associated with the MoS status. "I will try my best to play my role as a member of the special committee. However, I will not take any government benefits that come with the MoS status," he said.

Following the grant of the MoS rank, the five seers will be entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs 7,500 in addition to Rs 15,000 as house rent, 1,000 litres of diesel a month and Rs 3,000 towards monthly hospitality expenses. Each saint will have a personal staff of three.

Chief minister Chouhan said the seers would help his government create environmental awareness about the Narmada.# The seers were part of a conclave of religious heads in Indore recently where the "sant samaj" decided to launch a movement against Chouhan.

On March 28, the organisers had appointed Computer Baba to lead the rath yatra to "expose" alleged corruption in Chouhan's ambitious drive to plant six crore saplings along the Narmada that was launched in February 2017.

Computer Baba on Wednesday denied leading any stir against Chouhan. Speaking to the local media, he said: "We had put our thoughts across to the Chouhan government. Now we will monitor how trees are planted on the banks of the Narmada and their progress and upkeep."

"We have been given MoS rank because of logistical reasons. We need to stay and interact with government officials," Computer Baba said.

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls are due in November this year. The Congress on Wednesday accused Chouhan of trying to appease the seers, who enjoy a large following in the state.