Rajasthan Cabinet Reshuffle: Amid discussions of cabinet expansion in Rajasthan, three cabinet ministers from the Ashok Gehlot government have resigned from their posts. However, this announcement was made by senior Congress leader Ajay Maken and not by the ministers themselves.
So which three ministers resigned?
- Govind Singh Dotasra: Education Minister
- Raghu Sharma: Health Minister
- Harish Chaudhary: Revenue Minister
Ministers lose their positions to Gehlot-Pilot tiff:
The differences between Gehlot and Pilot has claimed the positions of these three ministers. State's political atmosphere intensified when Rajasthan Congress in-charge Ajay Maken abruptly arrived at Jaipur last night. Maken announced that these three ministers from the Gehlot government have tendered resignations from their respective ministerial positions but would be a part of the organization.
Tension between Sachin Pilot's faction and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's faction in the Rajasthan Congress have been reported to be on the rise for the past several months. Sachin Pilot's camp is demanding more representation for its people in Rajasthan Government as well as in Rajasthan Congress. Speculations of a cabinet re-shuffle had for long been on the cards.
Pathway to power cleared for 12 new ministers:
Although a reshuffle was attempted before Diwali, things did not go as planned. Now that the resignations of these three ministers have paved the way for the coronation of a total of 12 new ministers in the Gehlot cabinet, it is believed that CM Gehlot may soon announce expansion of cabinet.
"In a Congress high-command meeting, it has been decided that seven ministers from Ashok Gehlot's faction and five people from the Sachin Pilot's faction would get a chance to become ministers.", party sources revealed. In addition, the departments for a large number of ministers' may also be changed. The reshuffle will help balance the advantages and shortcomings in the 2023 assembly elections.