Rajasthan cabinet reshuffle
Happy that Congress high command considered Rajasthan cabinet reshuffle: Sachin Pilot
Jaipur/IBNS: Hours before the massive cabinet reshuffle to take place in Rajasthan, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said he is happy that the high command is considering the revamp "that is necessary to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) together in the 2023 elections".
Speaking to reporters, the former Rajasthan Deputy CM said: "We have to fight the BJP together to win the 2023 elections. I am glad that the high command took note of the concerns in this cabinet revamp."
Pilot's statement comes a year after his public rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had led the ruling Congress into a huge crisis.
To handle the crisis, a major cabinet rejig will take place to induct 15 new faces, including five rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot's loyalists. In all 30 ministers will take the oath of office and secrecy as part of Gehlot's fresh Cabinet reset.
"New ministers will be sworn in today. The step - taken by the party and the leadership after discussions - is sending a positive message across the state. We had raised this issue time and again. I'm happy that the party, high command, and the state government took note of it," Pilot told reporters.
On being asked about his five loyalists being accommodated in the new cabinet, the 44-year-old Congress leader said: "Congress is working under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Party workers will have to work together to bring fight the misdeeds of the BJP. There are no factions in the party. The decisions (of cabinet reshuffle) have been taken together."
The five MLAs loyal to former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot to be included in the state cabinet -- Hemaram Choudhary, Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena will be sworn in as ministers while Brijendra Singh Ola and Murari Lal Meena will be sworn in as Ministers of State, reported NDTV.
It is not clear what role Sachin Pilot will be given after the cabinet reshuffle. Reportedly, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra want him to take charge of party affairs in Gujarat, Prime Minister Modi's home state, which will go to polls next year, according to the report.
However, Pilot remains focused on Rajasthan, where he hopes to be made the chief minister, it said.
The decision to reshuffle followed a series of meetings between Pilot and senior Congress leaders in Delhi, including Gandhi, Gandhi Vadra and party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Meetings were also held between Chief Minister Gehlot and the party's senior leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi.
Ahead of the reshuffle, Congress ministers submitted their resignation. Three ministers Harish Chaudhary, Raghu Sharma and Govind Dotsara were the first to submit their resignation to Gehlot.
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