No deputy CM for Rajasthan, says Gehlot

NEW DELHI: Newly elected Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Sunday that he has no immediate plan to have a deputy.
    
Gehlot, who is here for consultations with party high command on the issue of Cabinet formation in the State, met Congress President Sonia Gandhi, after which he said there was no plan to have a Deputy CM "at the moment".
    
He, however, added that his government will go for an expansion of his Cabinet at the earliest.
    
There had been speculations earlier that Rajasthan could have at least one Deputy CM in the backdrop of demands from Jats that the CM post should get a leader from their community.
    
Gehlot, who became CM of the state for the second time, said Sonia Gandhi had congratulated him during the meeting and the people for the party's victory in the Assembly polls.
    
The meeting was described by Congress circles as a courtesy call, though it was necessary for discussing the composition of the Cabinet with the party top brass, sources said.
    
Gandhi conveyed her best wishes to Gehlot for better governance, they said.
    
This is Gehlot's first visit to the capital after taking over as the Rajasthan CM and he was welcomed by state party leaders, Members of Parliament, and senior state officials based in Delhi at the airport here.
    
Haryana Governor A R Kidwai, too, was present at the airport to welcome the new CM, party sources said.