Delhi meetings fuel Raj cabinet reshuffle buzz
Jaipur, July 9 -- Speculations over a possible cabinet reshuffle are rife following chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's recent visits to New Delhi , with Union home minister Amit Shah holding separate meetings with Rajasthan ministers, triggering fresh discussions about changes in the state government, officials said on Wednesday.
Shah met agriculture minister Kirori Lal Meena, medical and health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, and public health engineering minister Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary in Delhi, officials said, adding that education minister Madan Dilawar also travelled to Delhi but could not meet Shah during his visit. Officials said he is expected to return to the capital soon for a meeting with the senior BJP leader. The series of high-level meetings has intensified speculation that the BJP leadership is reviewing the performance of Rajasthan ministers ahead of the upcoming Assembly session.
Political observers believe the discussions may also be linked to a possible cabinet reshuffle and organisational changes within the state unit.
Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has made several visits to Delhi in recent weeks. He lately met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reportedly carrying official documents related to state matters. The chief minister has been in Delhi for the past two days, holding meetings with senior BJP leaders, officials aware of the matter said.
According to them, Meena was the first minister summoned to Delhi. During his meeting with Shah, he is learnt to have discussed differences with the state government and expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of action on issues he had raised during the previous Congress government's tenure. The discussion also reportedly covered the functioning of his department and feedback on its performance.
After the meeting, Meena shared photographs on social media, stating that he had held a positive discussion with Shah on Rajasthan's development, good governance and public welfare.
Gajendra Singh Khimsar and Kanhaiya Lal Chaudhary also met the Union home minister. Madan Dilawar, though called to Delhi, could not meet Shah due to scheduling constraints and is expected to be invited again.Political observers believe the BJP leadership is reviewing the performance of the Rajasthan government, assessing ministers' work and evaluating organisational feedback. However, the party has described the exercise as a routine review and has not officially commented on any cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore indicated that political appointments could be made soon. Responding to questions over the delay in appointments to boards and commissions, Rathore said the BJP did not terminate appointments made during the previous Congress government immediately after assuming power. He said several office-bearers, including Additional Advocate Generals (AAGs), were allowed to complete their tenure, resulting in delays in fresh appointments.
On the possibility of a cabinet expansion, Rathore said the decision rests entirely with the chief minister. He acknowledged that several ministerial positions remain vacant but said the timing of any expansion would be decided by the chief minister. He added that if the party's opinion is sought, the organisation only recommends names, while it may also request the government to relieve a minister for organisational responsibilities if required.
The Bhajan Lal Sharma government currently has 24 ministers, including the chief minister, two deputy chief ministers, 12 cabinet ministers, four ministers of state (Independent Charge) and five ministers of state. Rajasthan can have a maximum of 30 ministers, leaving six vacancies in the council of ministers.
With the government having completed nearly half of its five-year term, political observers believe it will need to fill the vacant cabinet posts and complete pending political appointments before preparations begin for the upcoming Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections. No official announcement has been made regarding a cabinet reshuffle yet....
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