@dheerajupadhyay
After successfully managing Punjab’s internal politics Congress high command is on high and wants to fix the raging issues between Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. Speculations was doing rounds for long about the expansion in Congress-ruled Rajasthan said party sources.
Recent visit of AICC Gen secretary, KC Venugopal and AICC general secretary in charge for Rajasthan Ajay Makan also indicates the same, that party wants things to get settled down in the state now.
Both Venugopal and Makan met Gehlot at the chief minister’s residence and discussed in detail about all the vacant political and official appointments which can be filled through induction and posting.
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Cabinet expansion in Rajasthan was doing the rounds for a while and it was pending for some time after the assurance from Priyanka Gandhi and 10 Janpath during the scuffle between Pilot and Gehlot last year over phone tapping issue. When Sachin Pilot, along with 18 Congress MLAs closed to him had rebelled against Gehlot leadership last year. According to the source’s resentment was brewing amongst the Pilot supporters and MLA who have waited enough to get rewarded.
Meanwhile, few days ago, Pilot had indicated that the party high command would take appropriate steps soon to address issues raised by him. He had said that he is in touch with the party’s top brass over the issues raised by him and hoped that it would be taken care of soon.
In July, last year, Pilot was sacked from the post of deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) after he rebelled against the leadership of Gehlot, when a month-long political crisis loomed large in Rajasthan and was placated by the Delhi. Last month, MLAs from Pilot camp demanded the fulfilment of promises made to Pilot, following which the cabinet expansion and political appointments demand gained momentum.
Presently there are 21 members in Gehlot cabinet including CM, while nine positions are still vacant. Rajasthan can appoint maximum of 30 ministers. However, in order to accommodate Sachin camp, in expansion few big names will may have to lose their post like education minister and state president Govind Singh Dotasra.
