Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot meets Central leaders amid buzz of cabinet rejig

JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot holding discussion with AICC leaders in New Delhi on Wednesday has heightened the expectations of an imminent cabinet expansion and state-level political appointments.
A long three-hour meeting was held at the residence of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the evening. It was attended by chief minister Gehlot, AICC general secretary organisation K C Venugopal, state general secretary incharge Ajay Maken and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi.
Maken said, “the meeting discussed the overall political situation in the state and a road map ahead for the party towards retaining power in the state (in 2023).” He said a lot of clarity had been achieved after the meeting.
Maken, however, evaded a direct reply on the cabinet reshuffle saying “the good news will come soon.” He said the meeting also discussed the bypoll results and much expected cabinet expansion and political appointments in detail.
According to sources, the expansion was likely to take place next week once governor Kalraj Mishra returns to the state after attending the governors’ conference in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Sachin Pilot said he had met Venugopal, Maken in Delhi on Wednesday and apprised them of the political situation in the state. He expressed hope that the much-needed cabinet reshuffle and political appointments would happen soon. He claimed Congress workers who had toiled hard to bring back the party back to power in the state should get respect and recognition as there is hardly two years left for the government to complete its term.
Currently, there are nine vacancies to be filled in the council of ministers, while two more may arise if the recently appointed AICC in-charges of poll-bound Gujarat and Punjab are dropped from the Gehlot cabinet.
Medical and health minister Raghu Sharma and revenue minister Harish Chaudhary were recently appointed as party incharges of poll bound Gujarat and Punjab, respectively.
The Gehlot government, which will complete its third year in office in December, is under pressure to accommodate the faction led by Pilot, former BSP legislators merged with the ruling party and supporting Independent MLAs.