Ashok Gehlot bats for old ministers, Sachin Pilot for youth in Rajasthan cabinet
Cabinet formation in Rajasthan is likely to be a difficult affair with chief minister Ashok Gehlot reportedly keen on reappointing ministers of his previous Cabinet while deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot is bent on inducting youth.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, with whom the State’s top leaders will hold deliberations, is likely to have the final say in the matter.
“The Cabinet should be a blend of youth and experience. We will soon expand it after deliberations with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. We will also consider the social and regional factor while finalising the Cabinet,” Pilot said.
“In the first phase, 16 ministers are likely to be inducted. Out of these, 10 are likely to be named from the Gehlot camp and six from Sachin’s side. Since there seems to be differences of opinion between the two leaders, every important appointment and decision would be made after discussions with Rahul Gandhi,” said a senior MLA, whose name is there in the first list.
Among old guards, Gehlot is expected to include experienced hands such as CP Joshi, BD Kalla, Jitendra Singh, Rajendra Parikh, Lal Chand Kataria, Amin Khan, Shanti Dhariwal, Parsadi Lal Meena, Parasram Mordia, Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, Hemaram Choudhary and Rajkumar Sharma — who had been ministers in his previous government.
“In the 80s, CMs chief of Congress-led states would take the flight to Delhi every now and then to seek the decision of Indira Gandhi and then Rajeev Gandhi. Going by the way Rajasthan is heading for a power struggle between Gehlot and Pilot, the role of Rahul Gandhi is going to be vital,” said Rameshwar Pareek, a political analyst.