Hours before the much-delayed Rajasthan’s cabinet reshuffle, Congress leader and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said that he was glad that the party’s high command and state government took note of the issues raised by him.
Addressing the media, Pilot said, “New ministers will be sworn in today. The step taken by the party and leadership after discussions is sending a positive message across the state. We had raised this issue time and again. I’m happy that party, high command and state government took a cognisance of it.”
A total of 15 new ministers – 11 cabinet ministers and four ministers of state – will take oath today as Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will restructure his cabinet. Of the 15 new ministers, 12 are new faces, including five loyalists of former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, while three ministers of state, all of whom are from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, have been elevated to the cabinet rank. The cabinet also features three women.
When asked about his loyalists being given the ministerial position, he said, “Congress is working under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Party workers will have to work together to bring forth misdeeds of BJP before people. There are no factions in the party. The decision (of cabinet reshuffle) has been taken together.”
Last year, Pilot and 18 other MLAs had declared an open revolt against the leadership of Chief Minister Gehlot and had resigned.
On being asked about his future role in the party, the Congress leader said, “I had met party president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, we discussed a lot of issues. I carried out all responsibilities given to me by the party in the last 20 years, with dedication. In the time to come, I will work wherever the party sends me.”
Pilot further said that the representation of tribals and Dalits has also been included in the Gehlot-led revamped cabinet.
“Four Dalit ministers included in the new cabinet. It’s a message that AICC, state government and party want representation for Dalits, backward and poor. For a long time, there was no Dalit representation in our government, it’s now been made up for and they have been included in good numbers… I think it was a necessary step that has been taken forward by Congress and the state government,” he said.
Among the new ministers to take oath as cabinet ministers are Hemaram Chaudhary, Mahendrajit Singh Malviya, Ramlal Jat, Mahesh Joshi, Vishvendra Singh, Ramesh Meena, Mamta Bhupesh Bhairwa, Bhajanlal Jatav, Tikaram Juli, Govind Ram Meghwal and Shakuntala Rawat.
Those who will be sworn in as the new ministers of state on Sunday are Zahida, Brijendra Singh Ola, Rajendra Durha and Muralilal Meena.
Of the five MLAs from the Pilot camp, Hemaram Choudhary, Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena will be sworn in as ministers while Brijendra Singh Ola and Murari Lal Meena will take oath as ministers of state.
The three SC ministers who have been elevated to the cabinet rank are Bhajanlal Jatav, Mamta Bhupesh Bhairwa and Tikaram Juli.
