Out with ‘under performer,’ in with the new: Gehlot’s possible cabinet strategy

Jaipur: Gehlot government’s ‘Chintan Shivir’ has increased the political mercury within the Congress. On the one hand, ministers are busy putting forward the performance of their departments, while on the other hand, discussions about reshuffle and expansion of the council of ministers have also created a buzz in the political realm of the state. It is expected that after the budget, there will be Cabinet reshuffle.

There are still about 9 districts in the state from where not a single minister hails from in the Gehlot Cabinet.
Interestingly, 4-5 existing ministers may be shown the ‘exit’ door of the Cabinet. Notably, young MLAs made for the first time can also be made ministers.

On Nov 21, 2021, the Council of Ministers were expanded in the Ashok Gehlot government wherein 15 Congress MLAs took oath as ministers. Of these, 11 MLAs took the oath of Cabinet and four MLAs took oath as MoS. Hemaram Choudhary, Mahendrajit Malviya, Ramlal Jat, Mahesh Joshi, Vishvendra Singh, Ramesh Meena, Mamta Bhupesh, Bhajanlal Jatav, Tikaram July, GR Meghwal and Shakuntala Rawat were made Cabinet minister. While Zahida Khan, Brijendra Ola, Rajendra Gudha and ML Meena were made Ministers of State.

Mamta Bhupesh, Bhajanlal Jatav and Tikaram Jully were promoted as Cabinet Ministers. In this reorganization Cabinet Ministers Raghu Sharma, Harish Chowdhary and the Minister of State, GS Dotasra were removed. These three ministers had already sent their resignations to Congress President Sonia Gandhi with the intention of working in the organisation. While Dotasara is currently the State PCC Chief, Dr Sharma was appointed by the party as in-charge of Gujarat affairs and Harish Choudhary was made in-charge of Punjab. Now it is expected that Dr Raghu Sharma may be made a minister again. The upcoming session of the State Assembly will start after a few days. The session is important, but the question is also that when will those districts, from where not even a single minister has been appointed, will be given a minister? There are still about 9 districts in the state from where there is not a single minister in the Gehlot Council of Ministers even after lapse of 4 years.