Cabinet formation after consulting Rahul Gandhi: Ashok Gehlot

Chief minister elect Ashok Gehlot has stated that his Cabinet will be formed after deliberations with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

“We will discuss with the party high command and later the decision will be taken on the Cabinet formation,” said Gehlot while talking to media persons at Albert Hall on Sunday. Gehlot was visiting Albert Hall to take stock of preparations for swearing in ceremony scheduled on Monday.

The two-time CM who goes to make a hat-trick on Monday also urged the Modi government to extend support to Rajasthan government in order to speed up his ambitious Refinery and Metro projects.

“We hope that they (Modi government) will support us. They should come forward and drop a message. Indeed he (Modi) should make the first tweet ‘Dont worry’,” said Gehlot when asked about his government’s relations with BJP-led NDA government at the Center.

Gehlot also took a jibe at the BJP which is pressurising the Congress government to fulfill promise of loan waiver to farmers or else face protests across the state. 

“It is their work in opposition to make such statement. We are doing our work,” Gehlot said. 

He also stated that Mahagathbandhan is prepared to take on Modi government. “Achhe Din Aaye Nahi. There is atmosphere of hatred across the country. We will create atmosphere of development,” he said.

Meanwhile, after swearing in of Gehlot as CM and Sachin Pilot as his deputy on Monday, the Cabinet formation is expected in two days.

Cabinet, the sources say, will be formed balancing power between both Pilot and Gehlot camps and the grapevine is that Pilot could have plum portfolios of UDH and home department. It is expected that over a dozen minister may take oath in the Cabinet formation.

The old team which served as ministers to Gehlot in his second term as CM could make a come back. Sources say that now, it rests on Gehlot as to how many of his old team he will pick as his Cabinet ministers and state ministers, or if he goes to form an entirely new team. Many Pilot hopfuls too are hoping to be inducted in Cabinet.

THE HOPEFULS

Jitendra Singh, Dr Rajkumar Sharma, Shanti Dhariwal, Bharat Singh Kunnar, Rajendra Pareek and Dayaram Paramar who served Gehlot as ministers in his previous Cabinet may find place in new Cabinet. Mahendra Jeet Malviya, Master Bhanwer Meghwal, Pramod Jain Bhaya, close to Pilot, could also figure in new Cabinet.

Gehlot’s men Govind Singh Dotasara, Lalchand Kataria, Mahesh Joshi and Vishvendra Singh, Raghu Sharma, BD Kalla, who enjoy both camps, can be ministers. From Pilot camp, Ramesh Meena, Brijendra Ola, GR Khatana, Harish Choudhary, Harish Chand Meena and Pratap Singh Khachariawas too could find place.