In order to control the discontent and mutual tussle in the Congress, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot can play a stake in the expansion of the cabinet next month. Under this, the cold war can be stopped for some time by making 3 to 4 MLAs of the Sachin Pilot camp as ministers. According to Congress sources, the cabinet expansion and reshuffle are likely to be completed as soon as the full-time president of the Congress is appointed in July.
Rajasthan has a quota of 30 ministers, currently, there are 21 ministers including the chief minister, so 9 more ministers can be made. Apart from making 3 to 4 MLAs from the pilot camp, 2 out of 6 MLAs who left the BSP and joined the Congress can also be made ministers. Some new faces from Congress and independents are also likely to get a chance.
Two and a half years have passed since the government was formed and till now there has not been a single expansion or reshuffle in the Gehlot cabinet. Independent MLAs who stood with the government during the revolt of Pilot camp, Sachin Pilot camp, and MLAs coming to Congress from BSP are continuously pressurizing for this.
In July last year, due to the rebellion, Sachin Pilot was sacked from the post of deputy CM and Vishvendra Singh, Ramesh Meena from ministerial posts. The Pilot camp wants the posts of its MLAs more than the sacked ministers. The Pilot camp also wants participation for itself in political appointments.
Along with the expansion of the cabinet, there is bound to be a large-scale reshuffle in the portfolios of the ministers. The portfolios of Health minister Raghu Sharma, Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Revenue Minister Harish Chaudhary, Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra, Higher Education Minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati, Technical Education Minister Subhash Garg can be changed.
Given the current political situation, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is not in a position to anger any MLA. There is a danger of displeasure of the deprived MLAs due to the expansion of the cabinet. Most of the MLAs want to become ministers and not more than 9 seats are vacant. There doesn't even seem to be a condition to drop anyone.
The MLAs whose numbers will not come to become ministers can be satisfied by giving them big political appointments. For this, the posts of the board, corporation president, and big political appointments can be excluded from the purview of office of profit and legislators can be given the opportunity on them.
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