Rajasthan Witnesses Delay In Cabinet Expansion (Image: X @BhajanlalBjp)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wrested power from the Congress in Rajasthan on December 4. The party won 115 of the 199 seats in the Rajasthan Assembly. On December 15, first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma was sworn in as the Rajasthan Chief Minister. However, the BJP is still struggling to form a cabinet in the desert state. State BJP leaders have not yet responded to this delay in the cabinet expansion.
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma visited Delhi twice, along with his two deputy CMs, Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa. However, the party has been unable to form a cabinet even after more than 25 days since the state voted the BJP into power. According to the New Indian Express, citing BJP insiders, there is a conflict between the RSS lobby and the Vasundhara Raje faction in Rajasthan. The report also says that the BJP is trying to find a way to balance the caste equation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, and this is also a major factor in the delay in cabinet formation.
The New Indian Express also reported that state BJP chief CP Joshi met CM Bhajanlal Sharma on December 27. Earlier, there were also reports that the cabinet expansion may take place on Friday or Saturday. Notably, MLAs are camping in Jaipur. Rajasthan, consisting of 200 assembly seats, can have a maximum of 30 ministers. There are also chances that the new Rajasthan cabinet may include fresh faces, as newly appointed CM Bhajanlal is also a first-time MLA.
जनता में अब निराशा व्याप्त होने लगी है क्योंकि राजस्थान की जनता ने 3 दिसंबर को BJP को स्पष्ट जनादेश दिया पर 22 दिन बीत जाने के बाद भी अभी तक मंत्रिमंडल का गठन नहीं हुआ है जिससे शासन संचालन में ठहराव की स्थिति आ गई है। हर विभाग भी असमंजस की स्थिति में है। जनता देख रही है कि अपनी…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 25, 2023
Meanwhile, the Congress party slammed the BJP over the delay in cabinet formation in Rajasthan. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that there is a state of confusion in every department due to this delay. Ashok Gehlot wrote on X on December 25 that there is disappointment among the public. The Congress leader also said that “governance has come to a standstill” and added that the cabinet must be formed at the earliest. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also criticized the BJP in this matter and said that the BJP took 12 days to announce the CM and two deputy CMs in Rajasthan. “26 days have gone by and Rajasthan still does not have a Cabinet and Council of Ministers,” added Jairam Ramesh on his X post on December 29.
Results to Assembly elections in Rajasthan were announced on Dec 3, 2023.
It took 12 days (till Dec 15, 2023) for the BJP to announce the CM and two Deputy CMs.
26 days have gone by and Rajasthan still does not have a Cabinet and Council of Ministers.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 29, 2023
